Secrets of the Musidora

Finally, at long last (yes, I know it's been a very, very long time in coming) the final chapter to Secrets of the Musidora! There's also an epilogue, too. I hope everyone enjoys!!

Shadows of the Past

Darkness covered Melanie's eyes and she felt two strong arms quickly grab her on each side before her vision returned. When Melanie finally could see again, she recognized the field where she had been in December. Only now, she saw seven of the other musea being held around her, Tineah restrained by five Death Eaters with ropes. A crowd of hooded Death Eaters surrounded them.

"Good evening, ladies," the voice they had all come to fear greeted them. Lord Voldemort stood proudly before them, looking down at them with a sinister smile. "It is such a pleasure to see all of you here at long last."

"What are you planning to do?" Melanie demanded, trying to pull herself away from her two captors. "What do you want?"

"The same thing that everyone wants, Miss Brienwald: more power." He raised his voice to address everyone surrounding him. "The power of the musea is one of the few powers left in the wizarding world that no one has yet controlled, and I intend to make it my own."

"We will never do as you wish, you must know that!" Melanie yelled at him, to which Voldemort laughed. "And you know that you cannot control us with the imperius curse," she continued, focusing her eyes firmly on him. "My power is enough to prevent that."

Voldemort snickered. "Your power?" He raised his wand. "Crucio!" A stream of red light flew towards Kathryn. "Crucio!" A stream of light shot at Aidra. "Crucio! Crucio!" The curses went towards Stella and Steph. He went down the line, sending a curse towards each musea. Each time the curse was deflected, and Melanie heard the music echoing through her mind. And each time the curse hit her power, it became harder for her to breathe until she began to feel dizzy. By the time Voldemort was finished, Melanie was relying on the two Death Eaters beside her to remain standing. As Melanie looked down at the ground, she saw the bottom of Voldemort's robe approach her.

"I know the limits of your power, Miss Brienwald. I have eyes everywhere, and I know the problems you had a year ago."

Melanie looked up to stare his deformed face. "Why don't you just kill me, then?"

Voldemort laughed. "Because that would completely go against my plan. You see," his robe swished as he moved away from her, "contrary to what you believe, I do not require your permission to control the muses."

He turned to look at the circle of Death Eaters. "Clytemnestra, my dear."

"Of course, Master," a delicate voice returned as Clytemnestra appeared at his side. She walked up to Kathryn and made her way down the line, pulling a hair out of everyone's head.

"You traitor!" Aidra yelled as she walked past. Clytemnestra just ignored her as she continued to collect the hairs. Tineah growled and hit her hooves against the ground as she passed, but Clytemnestra pretended not to notice.

"You were on his side all along, weren't you?" Melanie asked her, wincing when the hair was pulled from her head.

"We had to all be united for the summoning spell to work," Clytemnestra told her. "It was the only way." She pulled a hair from her own head and then handed the bundle to Voldemort with a bow.

"Very good. Now, where is my potions expert?" Voldemort asked.

"I am here, my Master," a figure answered, pulling out from the crowd.

"Very good, Severus. Is the potion I requested ready?"

"All has been prepared according to your directions, Master."

"Don't!" Melanie screamed at him. "You can't, Professor Snape! Don't help him!" Snape turned and gazed at Melanie with a still, emotionless face. Wordlessly, he turned back to Voldemort.

Voldemort started to chuckle again. "Poor delusional youth," he said to himself. "How they underestimated your ability to play the spy, Severus. Come, show your allegiance to me and finish the potion that will give me the power that has eluded all others." He handed the hairs to Snape, who bowed and walked to where a cauldron was brewing.

"No," Melanie said to herself as she watched him add the hairs to the potion and then stir. He filled a vial with the clear potion and then handed it to Voldemort.

"Very good, my trusted servant, very good. Now, Clytemnestra, activate the ingredients with the spell." He handed the vial to Clytemnestra, who took it with a smile.

"Bring the book!" she yelled, and a small figure came forward, holding a large, old book.

"The Musidora," Kathryn gasped as Clytemnestra brought herself up importantly, cleared her throat and began to speak in a language that Melanie couldn't understand.

Her efforts to understand what Clytemnestra was saying were soon forgotten as Melanie suddenly became nauseous and lightheaded. The ground seemed to roll as Clytemnestra finished the spell and looked at Voldemort with a broad smile.

"Yes, yes," he said to himself. "Now, which muse shall we retrieve first?" He walked down the line, finally standing in front of Melanie. "How about Euterpe? Yes. Clytemnestra, begin the spells with Miss Brienwald's beloved Euterpe."

Melanie gathered the strength to watch Clytemnestra as she turned pages in the book until she came to a two-page spread with a fabulous blue border. As she began to cast the spell, Melanie felt a chill pass through every part of her body. She shuddered and the two Death Eaters holding her let go. She fell to the ground and let out a cry as a glowing mist started to emanate from her. The mist gathered in the air in front of her and started to form into the figure of a woman.

A sparkling blue veil covered the figure's long, flowing blonde hair that dangled all the way down to the waist of the figure's blue chiton.

Melanie's strength began to return to her, and she looked up at the figure. "Euterpe," she said breathlessly.

Euterpe gave her a sad look as Voldemort walked around the glowing figure.

"Incredible. In all of my years in the world of magic I have never seen such a sight." He turned back to Clytemnestra, his eyes wide with anticipation. "Next bring out Calliope."

Clytemnestra nodded and turned to a page with an orange border. Pippy let out a whimper as Clytemnestra began to speak the incantation. Quickly, Melanie pushed aside Pippy's single guard and held the girl in her arms as she, too, began to shake as the golden mist emerged from her.

Calliope soon floated before them. Like Euterpe, she was dressed in a traditional Greek dress, this one orange, but she looked older, and her light brown hair gathered into a bun at the back of her neck. She glared at Voldemort fiercely as she floated to Euterpe's side.

"Marvelous," he announced. "Move onward, Clytemnestra, move onward."

Clytemnestra turned a page and Melanie caught a glimpse of a silver border before the incantation began. Tineah quickly began to buck her legs, and the Death Eaters held their ropes uncertainly.

"Restrain the centaur!" Voldemort cried as Tineah continued to struggle, and the Death Eaters increased their pull on the ropes restraining her.

Tineah bucked once more and, as she hit the ground, a figure toppled out of her intact. A small Urania, clad in sparkling silver, marched defiantly across the damp field up to Voldemort and stared him down in the eyes, her black hair held elegantly in a bun at the top of her head. Her glare hardened as she gracefully floated up to join her sisters.

Voldemort chuckled to himself as Clytemnestra turned the page yet again and continued to speak. Soon there was a long line of muses floating above them: Thalia and Melpomene, identical in every aspect except the color of their dresses, Terpsichore with her bouncy curls held back by a red sash, and Clio, the most dignified of the group, who simply stood there, looking in disdain over the entire scene.

"Wonderful, wonderful, yes, wonderful," Voldemort announced, turning once again to Clytemnestra. "However, there is still one muse missing from the collection."

"But Master!" Clytemnestra pleaded.

"Silence!" he yelled. "Did you really think that I would go to all of this work to only control eight of the muses?"

Clytemnestra sobbed, opening her mouth to protest, but sighed before turning once again to the book held in front of her. In a trembling voice, she spoke one last incantation. Her voice faltered as she began to shake, but she continued to speak until the familiar golden mist rushed out of her and quickly swirled into Polyhymnia, a radiant figured clothed in pure white. Her golden hair was covered almost completely by her white veil, and her face seemed to glow in a light different than the golden glow of the other muses.

Voldemort's eyes glowed, as well, as he reached down and grabbed the vial from Clytemnestra's still-trembling fingers. He smiled as he placed the vial into his robes.

"And now," he announced, walking before the women, "behold the wizard who now controls the power of all nine muses."

"You are despicable," Melanie shot back, still holding Pippy in her arms.

"Do you dare be so outspoken, without the power of Euterpe to protect you?" he asked, drawing his wand. "Crucio!"

Melanie fell to the ground, convulsing as the pain seared through her body. Her mind went back to last Christmas, when she had experienced only a fraction of the curse. Now she endured the whole thing.

Once the curse had been lifted, Melanie still laid on the ground, unable and unwilling to move.

"Melanie," Pippy whimpered, nudging her.

"Isn't it sweet, how the little one comes to your aid," Voldemort teased, moving his wand to point towards Pippy.

"You shall not attack the child!" Tineah yelled, using all of her strength to throw off the ropes that bound her and dart between Voldemort and Pippy.

Voldemort moved to attack Tineah when suddenly there were flashes of light from all around. Melanie regained her strength enough to grab Pippy and pull her out of Voldemort's sight. Once they were concealed behind Tineah's frame, Melanie looked around in relieved surprise. Beyond the ring of Death Eaters, a ring of Order members had appeared, wands drawn.

"Well, well, well," Voldemort chuckled to himself, calmly remaining in the center of the ring. "The Order of the Phoenix. How nice of you to stop by for your final defeat." A sly smile crossed his face as he turned to where the muses were floating. "Melpomene! Thalia!"

The two muses struggled as they were pulled towards Voldemort. Surprised, the Order members looked from the muses to each other as Melanie noticed another dark ring forming around the Order.

"Dementors!" someone cried out, and several people turned around and sent patronuses towards the oncoming shadows. But as the shimmering figures began to appear out of wands, they immediately turned to attack their conjurers.

"No, stop it!" Stephanie cried, looking at Thalia with pleading eyes. The muse sighed sadly and maintained her control.

"Now, attack!" Voldemort shouted, and the ring of Death Eaters broke to take on the Order.

Melanie sat there, dumbfounded, with Pippy in her arms as the battle broke out all around them. A voice shouting her name finally dragged her back to reality.

Through the crowd, Melanie saw Draco's figure run up to her side. "Melanie!"

Melanie looked up into his face in surprise. "Draco? How are you here?"

"We tracked you down with your compass," he told her, helping her stand up. "Are you all right?"

Melanie nodded as she looked around. Different members of the Order had spread out and were fighting against the Death Eaters. Spells were being shot everywhere, and Pippy, still sitting next to her, was looking around in fright.

Melanie's eyes went from Pippy to the centaur who was still beside them. "Take her!" she told Tineah, pushing Pippy towards the centaur. "Take Pippy away from here, she shouldn't be here!"

The centaur nodded. "Come, child." She bent down and allowed Pippy to climb onto her back.

"Don't stop until you get to safety," Melanie told her as Tineah galloped away from the battle. She watched them for a moment as they disappeared into the trees.

"What happened?" Draco asked, looking at the muses floating calmly amidst the battle.

"Voldemort...he's taken the muses," Melanie stammered, following his gaze. "I don't have Euterpe's protection anymore." She gasped and pulled Draco out of the way as Voldemort sent a flash of green light towards them.

"How I hate to break up reunions," Voldemort sneered, sending more spells in their direction.

"Euterpe!" Melanie called as she and Draco barely managed to miss the flashes of green light.

Voldemort laughed. "Your muse cannot help you! I hold the vial that controls them, so they cannot do anything I have not commanded." Voldemort laughed as he continued to throw curses off towards them. "You know, Draco, your family was always so loyal to me. It is such a shame that you failed to live up to their expectations."

Draco turned to face him, but Melanie pulled him away yet again. "No, we cannot fight him," she gasped in his ear.

"Shall we do anything but run?" he asked as they hid behind the barn.

Melanie opened her mouth to reply when she heard someone calling her name. "Mom?" she asked in disbelief.

"Melanie!" Violetta shouted, running up next to them. "You need to get out of here!"

"What? You've got to be kidding! What are you doing here?"

"Getting you out of here," her mom replied, grabbing her arm.

"Well, well, well, what have we here?" Voldemort asked, turning around the corner. Violetta froze and turned around slowly. "If it isn't the last of the Buxleys. Your brother ended up being quite the thorn in my side."

"I'm glad!" Melanie yelled, pushing her mother aside and sending a spell towards Voldemort. He laughed as it vanished in front of him.

"I've been looking forward to being able to be rid of you, Miss Brienwald. If it weren't for your stubbornness I would have had the muses much earlier." He raised his wand and was about to attack when a shout came from behind them.

"Voldemort!" Harry's voice shouted, and a jet of red light flew towards Voldemort, where it disappeared before hitting him.

Voldemort laughed as he turned to face Harry. "Mr. Potter." Harry sent off another spell at him, confused when it again disappeared. Voldemort laughed. "Do you really think you can hit me with the shield of Euterpe?" He shot a jet of green light towards Harry, and Violetta used the distraction as a chance to pull Melanie and Draco around the back of the barn out of Voldemort's sight.

"We need to help Harry!" Melanie cried, struggling as her mother pulled them away.

They were now near the edge of the woods, and they could see that the battle had spread into the trees as flashes of light filled the darkness. It was impossible to tell who was who from that distance, much less who was winning the fight.

"Melanie, you can't handle it!"

"Yes, I can!" Melanie protested, pulling her arm from her mother's hands. "Just give me the chance!"

"No! This isn't a game, Melanie. Your uncle died trying to fight against him, and he almost killed our entire family for it!"

"I know! But isn't stopping Voldemort more important?"

Her mother stared at her in shock. "You...you said his name."

"Of course I did! His name is Voldemort and if we don't stop him now he never will be!" Melanie sighed. "I'm an adult now. I can make my own decisions and I say that finishing off Voldemort is worth everything. If you want to leave you can, but I'm staying here."

Violetta looked at her in surprise for a moment.

"Draco! Melanie!" Hermione shouted as she and Ron emerged from the woods, slightly out of breath. "Where's Harry?"

Melanie pointed wordlessly to where Harry and Voldemort were dueling. Without another word, Hermione and Ron ran towards them, wands drawn.

Melanie walked up to her mother. "I'm going to go help them now," she said quietly before running over to help Harry with Draco.

Even with three against one, Harry, Hermione, and Ron were having major difficulties in their fight against Voldemort. Harry's eyes were blazing as he and Voldemort fought head to head, Hermione and Ron attacking from the sides, causing little notice to Voldemort.

"Ron, quick, around on this side!" Hermione yelled, gesturing for Ron to move across from her.

"What's the point, everything's bouncing off him!" Ron shouted in frustration.

"That's because he has Euterpe protecting him!" Melanie told him as she and Draco appeared alongside them.

"What?" Ron asked.

"Do you like that trick? Watch this one!" Voldemort laughed, magically pushing them all to the ground as he pulled Clio towards him. He laughed as they could do nothing but look in wonder as Clio closed her eyes and began to produce a gray mist.

The mist swirled and soon molded into a human form. The man, a tall, imposing figure with thick black hair and a gruff face, grinned menacingly at them.

Hermione let out a gasp. "Grindelwald," she whispered as she looked at the tall figure.

"Who?" Ron asked, his wand out and quivering.

"A dark wizard that Dumbledore defeated in 1945," Hermione answered mechanically.

"Very good, mudblood," Voldemort sneered. "With the power of Clio, I can bring back old wizards to keep you busy while Mr. Potter and I settle things once and for all." He looked over at Harry, who climbed to his feet without taking his eyes off of Voldemort.

"And a special present just for you, Miss Brienwald," Voldemort added with a grin, glancing to Clio as he and Harry continued their duel.

Ron tried to follow them, but a blast from Grindelwald's wand stopped him in his tracks. Hermione shot a spell at him, but all it did was stop Grindelwald for a second.

The wizard turned to Hermione and menacingly walked towards her. Desperately, Hermione started to shoot off spells towards him, but they did not slow his approach.

"Leave her alone!" Ron shouted, sending his own spells towards Grindelwald. The wizard didn't even notice and his attention never strayed from Hermione.

"Ron, help!" Hermione cried as Grindelwald drew his wand and aimed it at her.

At the last second, a figure appeared and pushed Hermione away, sending a spell of her own towards the misty figure. Grindelwald stopped and buckled for a moment. He recovered and sent a single spell towards the figure, who collapsed on the ground. The light from the spell allowed everyone to recognize the face of Violetta.

"Mom!" Melanie yelled, rushing to her side. "Mom!"

"She's still alive, just knocked out," Draco told her, bending down by Violetta's side and checking her pulse.

"What have I done?" Melanie asked herself, dropping onto the grass.

"Melanie, she's fine," Draco told her calmly. "She'll come to in a bit." He looked over his shoulder. "Melanie..." She followed his glance over to Clio, who was producing another gray mist.

Melanie's breath stopped in her chest as the mist formed into the figure of none other than Abelard Buxley.

"Grandpa," Melanie whispered under her breath as she stood up. The ghostly figure looked over Melanie with a critical eye.

"Letta?"

"Her...her daughter," Melanie stammered, and an unexpected smile crossed his face. He looked over at Draco.

"And you are a Malfoy?"

Draco nodded, looking anxiously over at where Grindelwald was getting the better of Hermione and Ron.

"Well, I'm glad something turned out as I wanted it to," Abelard said with a chuckle as Melanie looked at him in confusion.

"Melanie!" a voice shouted, and she turned to see the figure of Rhonda running towards them.

"What is she doing here?" Melanie exclaimed. She gasped as her grandfather drew his wand and aimed it at the approaching Rhonda.

A red light shot him in the back, and Melanie stood there for a second in shock. "I just hexed my grandfather," she whispered to herself.

The figure turned around to look at her, his eyes flashing with anger.

"No child of mine will ever hex me!" he shouted as he sent a curse towards Melanie.

"Uh-oh," Melanie said as she ducked from the stream of red light.

"Melanie!" Rhonda yelled, running into the fight with her wand drawn. She distracted Abelard Buxley with a few spells long enough for Draco and Melanie to escape.

"That's a nice family reunion," Draco said as they ducked behind a nearby bush.

"How are we supposed to win this?" Melanie asked. "Nothing can beat them because they're constantly regenerated by Clio!" She sighed. "If only there was a way that we could control the muses."

"They can't do anything? Surely they don't want to be on Voldemort's side."

"Of course they don't," Melanie told him. "They were all giving him dirty looks when he summoned them out of us. But they can't do anything because he holds the vial."

"The vial?" Rhonda asked, ducking behind the bush with them.

"A vial of potion that controls them. He got hair from each of us and had some sort of spell cast on it."

Rhonda's eyes widened. "Like the potion you've been working on?"

"Maybe. It doesn't matter, anyway, because that's back at Hogwarts."

"Not all of it," Draco said, pulling a vial out of his pocket. Melanie stared at it in shock. "I grabbed it when we were got the compass. I though it might come in handy."

Melanie grabbed it from him. "This might actually work. We just need to find the Musidora." She peeked through the trees, barely missing another curse from her grandfather.

"I'll keep him busy," Draco told her, shifting his weight and getting ready to stand up. "You just go find that book and cast that spell."

Melanie nodded, and Draco leaned over and kissed her on her cheek. "I love you," he told her before he jumped back out from behind the bush and started throwing spells at Abelard. Melanie smiled to herself before she turned to Rhonda.

"I'll go find Clytemnestra. You go see if you can find the other musea. I know Tineah's already taken Pippy back to Hogwarts, but I don't know what happened to all of the others."

Rhonda nodded. "Good luck."

Melanie nodded back. "Same to you," she said as she sneaked off, trying to find where Clytemnestra had gone with the book.

"If I was Clytemnestra, where would I go?" Melanie asked herself as she looked around the field. Her eyes finally landed on the structure in the middle. "The barn." She took off running at full speed into the barn, where she found Clytemnestra crouched on the ground, flipping through the book.

"Accio Musidora!" Melanie shouted, and the book flew into her arms.

"No!" Clytemnestra shouted, pulling out her wand.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Melanie shouted, freezing her before she could get a spell off. Melanie sighed and started to flip through the pages of the book, looking for the spell. As she flipped through each page, her frustration grew. She couldn't read a single word in the book; it was all a bunch of undecipherable symbols.

She waved her wand back at Clytemnestra and lifted the spell. "How do you read this?" she yelled, thrusting her wand in between the yellowed pages.

Clytemnestra laughed. "It's in Greek. Does the poor girl not read Greek?"

"Translate it, now!" Melanie yelled, pointing her wand at Clytemnestra as she kicked the book across the ground.

"Or what?" Clytemnestra asked, climbing to her feet.

"Or I'll...I'll torture you," Melanie replied uncertainly, but Clytemnestra just laughed as she approached Melanie.

"You are too good of a person to use an unforgivable on me."

A flash of red light hit the ground just by Clytemnestra's feet. "But I am not," a voice behind Melanie answered. Draco walked up next to Melanie. "I won't miss next time. Translate the spell."

Clytemnestra looked from him to Melanie, huffing before she reached down to look at the book. "What do you want?" she asked unwillingly.

"Give this potion the power to control the muses," Melanie ordered, pulling out the vial of potion.

Clytemnestra glared at her as she grabbed the vial from Melanie. She flipped to a page in the middle of the book and began to speak. The vial glowed for a second before she handed it back to Melanie. "There you go. Anything else?"

"Petrificus Totalus!" Draco shouted, and Clytemnestra fell to the ground. He moved both Clytemnestra and the book into a corner. "That should keep her out of our hair for a while."

Melanie nodded and clutched the vial as she and Draco ran out of the barn. Draco ran to help Hermione and Ron, who were struggling to hold up against Grindelwald and Abelard Buxley, while Melanie ran up to Clio's figure floating nearby.

"Make them vanish!" Melanie ordered, holding out the vial. But Clio shook her head sadly.

"Even with your own vial, you cannot force me to undo what he has ordered. As long as his vial is still intact I cannot cease."

Melanie groaned. "Is there nothing you can do?"

"I can do whatever you would tell me to do, but I cannot stop following someone else's orders."

Melanie's eyes widened. "Then can you summon someone to fight against them for us?"

A broad smile crossed Clio's face. "Of course. Two defenders, coming right up."

She closed her eyes and two separate gray mists began to form by each of the already existing figures. Melanie hurried over to Draco's side as Abelard Buxley, ignoring the gray mist forming beside him, continued to throw curses as him.

In her hurry, Melanie slipped in the damp grass and fell. "Melanie!" Draco shouted, hurrying over to her side. But he slipped and fell as well, his own wand flying out of his hand as he hit the ground.

Melanie gasped as she looked up and saw her grandfather pointing his wand at them.

"Draco!" Melanie shouted, trying to get to her wand in time. She gasped as a stream of green light headed towards them. She tried to struggle to her feet, but slipped again in the wet ground. She looked up again just in time to see a gray figure dart in between them and the curse.

"Are you all right, Letta?" the figure asked, glancing behind his shoulder.

"Why is everyone mistaking you for your mom?" Draco asked as the two gray figures started to fight each other. He stood up and rushed over to help Melanie to her feet.

Melanie did not answer. Instead, she looked in wonder at the two battling figures. "It's my uncle," she whispered.

"Melanie, do you believe this?" Hermione asked, her and Ron running up to where she and Draco were standing. "It's incredible!"

"What?" Melanie asked, finally turning her attention away from her uncle and grandfather. She looked over at the gray figure that was now fighting Grindelwald. She would have recognized the distinct beard a mile off. It was Dumbledore.

"Well, it looks like Clio picked good match-ups," Melanie said quietly.

"You're telling me," Hermione agreed. "But we need to go see if we can help Harry at all."

The rest of the group nodded their agreement and they ran to where Harry was still battling Voldemort. Harry seemed to be tiring, and every spell he sent towards Voldemort was stopped by Euterpe's protection.

Harry saw them approach and ran with them into the nearby trees.

"I'm out of ideas," Harry said, breathing heavily. "I can't figure out a way to get past this protection."

"Great bunch of good it did destroying all those horcruxes if we can't get to Voldemort at all," Ron muttered under his breath.

"Hey, it's not like I'm not trying," Harry threw back. "There's just no way to get past Euterpe."

Hermione looked at Melanie. "Any ideas? I mean, you were a musea all those years."

Melanie just shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I can't erase Euterpe's protection." Melanie searched her brain for any idea at all. "Maybe we could get Euterpe to protect Harry, too?"

"No." Harry shook his head. "That won't do any good. It would just be a standoff."

"We could link Voldemort to the rest of the Death Eaters. The transfer might disorient him so much that he'll break off the protection himself," Hermione suggested, looking at Harry hopefully.

"No," Harry replied, suddenly staring at the ground calmly. He looked up at them. "Have her link Voldemort to me."

"What?!?"

"My soul is whole-his is not. He can touch me because he used my blood in that spell, but it didn't touch my soul."

"And a link is an emotional bond," Melanie finished, her eyes widening in understanding.

"And yer mum's love is still there," Ron added.

"My love for all of my friends is still there," Harry added quietly, looking around at them. There was a moment of silence as the group exchanged looks.

"It's worth a shot," Hermione grumbled, breaking the silence.

Harry nodded. "All right then, here we go," he said, starting to get up.

"Wait, Harry," Melanie said. "What if this doesn't work?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Have any better ideas?"

There was silence.

"This is it, then," Hermione said quietly.

Harry nodded and looked at Melanie. "Do it." Melanie grabbed the vial and looked through the trees at Euterpe. From far off, Melanie could see the muse smile and nod.

"It's done," Melanie said simply, and Harry took in a deep breath.

"Here we go, then." He stood up and walked out from behind the trees.

"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort yelled, whipping his wand out towards Harry. Harry didn't move as the stream of green light headed towards him. The look of triumph on Voldemort's face faded into a frightened look of shock as the light turned into green smoke and vanished as it hit Harry.

Voldemort let out a cry and doubled over in pain. "What is happening?"

Calmly, his face set as stone, Harry walked up to Voldemort. "Euterpe linked us. The protection she gave to you is being transferred to me, forming a deep, emotional bond."

Voldemort was unable to stand, and Harry simply continued to approach him calmly, slowly lowering his wand with each step. "You may have my blood within you, but your broken soul cannot handle the connection to my heart, which is strengthened through my mother's love and the love of my friends."

Voldemort cringed at the mention of Harry's mother, the pain forcing him to the ground as his wand and the vial fell from his hands.

"Then I will end the connection," Voldemort stammered through his shaking body. His hands fumbled around, searching for the vial amongst the grass.

"You cannot force her to break the connection," Hermione told him, smiling as she walked up next to him.

"And why not, mudblood?" Voldemort asked, spitting at Hermione from the ground.

"Because you no longer have any control over the muses," Melanie announced, moving her foot aside to reveal the crushed bits of what had been Voldemort's vial.

Voldemort's eyes widened as his face lowered and his body spasmed. Soon, the greatest threat to the wizarding world lay still on the wet grass.

"Is he really gone?" Ron asked, joining the group.

"I think so," Harry said, kicking Voldemort's wand away from his body. His breathing suddenly became labored.

"Harry, what's wrong?" Hermione asked, looking at him worriedly.

"It's...it's over, Hermione! No more Death Eaters, no more Dark Marks, no more fear. He's gone!" He ran over and threw his arms around Hermione. She started to laugh as they broke apart and Hermione and Ron embraced. Harry moved over and gave Melanie a hug until Draco cleared his throat behind them.

"You know, Potter, I would like to hug my own fiancé," Draco snarled, throwing Harry a playful smile as he looked at Melanie.

"No more worrying about if we're going to be hunted down tomorrow," Melanie told him, a relieved smile crossing her face.

Draco threw his arms around her and they stayed that way for a few minutes, until Melanie opened her eyes and saw lights flashing in the woods.

"They're still fighting," Melanie said, pushing herself away from Draco. She grabbed the vial.

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked.

"Getting Euterpe to protect everyone in the Order," Melanie answered.

"Good idea," Harry told her.

Not only Euterpe, but the rest of the muses quickly went about ending the battle. Thalia and Melpomene corralled the Dementors; Clio vanished Grindelwald and Abelard Buxley. Polyhymnia managed to appear in the middle of the field with Clytemnestra at her feet and the Musidora in her arms. The other muses made their way to where Rhonda and the other musea were huddling together. Rhonda saw Melanie and Draco and ran towards them.

"It's Stella," Rhonda said breathlessly, immediately turning back towards the group.

Melanie and Draco exchanged glances and followed her. When they reached the group, they saw Stephanie huddled in the middle of the small crowd cradling the limp figure of her twin sister. Kathryn saw Melanie approach from where she was standing next to Scarlett and gave her a sad look. Aidra stood a bit apart from them, looking at the scene uncertainly.

"A Death Eater got her," Kathryn explained in a whisper, moving to Melanie's side. "We tried to hide after the fighting started, but two Death Eaters attacked us. Aidra didn't have a wand, Scarlett doesn't know a curse from a charm, and they got Stella first off and disoriented Stephanie so much there wasn't much we could do. If help hadn't arrived, we would all probably be dead."

Melanie nodded sadly, watching as tears streamed down Stephanie's face. Melanie looked up and saw several of the muses floating nearby, also looking at the scene with sad looks.

Melanie finally just walked away, shaking her head. The Order was starting to emerge from the woods, most of them bringing a captured Death Eater or two along with them. Melanie noticed McGonagall and shout to lead the Death Eaters into the barn. Thalia and Melpomene floated nearby, guarding the barn with Dementors and patronuses.

All around her, people were cheering and celebrating. Lupin and Bill Weasley appeared with the limp body of Greyback. Tonks ran over to Harry as soon as she saw Voldemort's body and nearly suffocated him with her hug until Lupin gently pulled her away, giving Harry a look of pride as he did so. Smiles were all around, and Melanie overheard bits of joyous conversation: "I knew Harry could do it," "No more You-Know-Who, nobody should be afraid to say Voldemort anymore." Yet, Melanie wandered around aimlessly, emotionless, caught between the joy of the victory and the despair of the loss.

Gradually, everyone began to notice flashes of light in the distance and turned to see two figures attacking one last Death Eater.

Arthur Weasley was the first to identify the Order members. "Fred! George!" he cried, running off to help the twins. Several others took a step forward and followe.

"Snape," Harry whispered under his breath, recognizing the figure fighting against the twins.

"Professor Snape?" Melanie said to herself, looking from Draco to the still-battling figures. The battle was bringing Snape and the Weasleys closer to the crowd, and a few more members of the Order ran up to help.

Suddenly, Scarlett started running. "No!" she screamed.

"Scarlett!" Kathryn shouted, taking off after her.

"Scarlett, no!" Melanie chimed in, joining Kathryn in a sprint towards the battle. Scarlett outran them both, running straight into the fight. Luckily, her timing was right so that the spells stopped with her arrival.

"No! He's on our side!" she cried, standing between Snape and the others. "You can't attack him!"

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked as everyone else formed a circle around them. "He's a bloody spy."

"No, he saved our lives!" Scarlett yelled, still adamantly standing in front of Snape. Kathryn sighed and joined her.

"She's right." The crowd burst into whispers as the two girls stood together.

"When was this?" McGonagall asked.

"Earlier tonight," Scarlett answered, her voice quieting down. "We were all trying to hide and a group of Death Eaters found us. They would have killed us all if he hadn't helped us."

Melanie turned to look at Rhonda. "When Kathryn said help arrived I thought you..."

Rhonda shook her head. "When I found them Stella was already dead and they were all alone."

Melanie's eyes widened. "Then Snape..." Her voice trailed off as the Order continued to try to convince the girls to move.

"He saved our lives," Kathryn protested. "We can't stand aside."

"She's right," Aidra added, joining Kathryn and Scarlett. "I don't know what zis man has done, but he saved our lives."

There was an uncomfortable silence and McGonagall finally sighed. "Well, we're obviously not getting anything decided this way. Tonks, Remus, Arthur, why don't we meet with Severus and figure this out sensibly?"

Everyone slowly lowered their wands and McGonagall, Tonks, Lupin, and Mr. Weasley all walked with Snape towards the tree line. The crowd slowly dispersed and whispered amongst themselves. Melanie looked on in interest as Erato appeared by the Weasley twins and gently guided Fred over to where Stephanie was still sitting with Stella in her arms. Harry walked by Melanie and Draco mumbling about Snape.

"I think he's on our side, Harry," Melanie told him.

"He killed Dumbledore!"

"I still think..." Melanie replied, trailing off. She sighed as Harry walked off with Ron and Hermione. She turned to Draco. "What do you think?"

Draco only shook his head. "I don't even understand him."

Melanie sighed and looked at the scene around her. There was still celebration, but the lateness of the evening was starting to show. However, nobody wanted to leave until they knew what was going to happen with Snape. Everyone separated into little groups to discuss what had happened and the musea did the same, standing off to the side surrounded by the glowing forms of the muses. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a familiar figure walking towards her.

"Dad!" Melanie shouted, running to where Octavian was carrying Violetta. "Is she going to be all right?"

He nodded as he set Violetta down carefully in the grass. "Just knocked out," he replied easily, though his eyes betrayed his concern. "What happened?"

"Grindelwald," Melanie replied.

Her father gave her a quizzical look. "But he's been dead since before I was born."

Melanie just shook her head. "It's a long story." She glanced over at the muses. "I'll be back in just a minute, Dad."

She walked over to where the nine figures were floating silently. "What do we do now? Is there a spell to return you?"

Euterpe looked at her sadly and shook her head. "The only way for a muse to join with another being is in their first breath of life. Now that we've been separated, there's nothing we can do."

"So that's it then?" Melanie asked. "What happens now?"

"Well, when you break that vial and release us we will return to our spirit form and do as we have always done-find new vessels to live in."

"Oh," Melanie said, pulling out the vial of potion. She just looked at the glistening vial for a second as Euterpe floated down to stand in front of her.

"I'm sorry my codelette," Euterpe said. "I would love to stay with you. I have enjoyed being with you more than any of my other vessels." She sighed. "But I fear there's not much that I can do."

Melanie nodded sadly. "I understand." She sniffled and tried unsuccessfully to keep her eyes from watering.

"Oh, do not worry, my codelette. We may yet see each other again. It may take more power than I have, but I will try."

Melanie nodded, looking down at the vial in her hands. "I guess I should destroy this, now," she said weakly. Her hands had started to close around the vial when she heard a scream coming from across the field.

"Mom?" Melanie wondered aloud, forgetting about the vial and running in the direction of the continuing screams. "Mom!"

As she ran closer, she saw where her mother was desperately backing away from a misty figure. Even Melanie's father sat and looked at the figure in shock.

"No! You're dead!" she cried, and Melanie recognized the shape of her uncle.

"No, Mom, it's okay!" Melanie shouted, running to her side. "It's Uncle Rimian. Clio brought him back to fight Grandpa."

"Fight Grandpa?" Violetta asked, looking from Melanie to Rimian. "Our father's been dead for years!"

"The muse brought him back, too," Rimian explained, kneeling down by his twin sister. "Brought him back in one of his rages, actually, so that he was trying to curse everything that moved."

Violetta gave a confused laugh and shook her head. "But how are you..." She reached up and grabbed her brother's hand. Her eyes started to get teary. "I never thought..."

"Hey sis, don't worry about it," Rimian told her. "Consider this the bonus round of goodbyes."

Violetta laughed and wiped her eyes.

Rimian looked up at Melanie. "I don't know how much time I have," he turned back to Violetta and Octavian, " but I want you to know I'm sorry if what I did hurt you and Octavian. I should have known better than to think Voldemort would have left you alone after what I did."

Octavian shook his head, the shock starting to leave his eyes. "Rimian, you were never one to accurately judge the results of your actions."

Rimian smiled. "But I trust you've been taking care of my sister properly for me? I can see little Mel has become quite the witch." He looked over at Melanie and smiled. "You've gotten so big since I saw you. You were just a baby then."

Melanie nodded, blushing.

Rimian kept smiling at her. "You look so much like your mother. That's a very good thing." He leaned in closer. "She gets it from me," he whispered.

Melanie giggled. "Thanks. And thanks for your help tonight." She blushed. "I think Grandfather would have killed me if you hadn't stepped in."

"Oh, he really wasn't that bad," Rimian told her, exchanging looks with Violetta. "Good old Voldy just managed to bring him back at a bad time." Rimian looked up as Draco walked up behind Melanie. "Well, hello there!" He glanced at Melanie. "Friend of yours?"

Melanie looked behind her and smiled at Draco. "I guess so," she said, a wide grin crossing her face.

"I see," Rimian replied. "Ah, dear old Dad would have like to know that one of his offspring managed to mate with a Malfoy."

"Rimian!" Violetta told him harshly.

Melanie giggled and noticed a figure walked towards them from the trees, escorted by several Order members. But Professor Snape stopped before he reached them, his eyes focused in amazement on Rimian.

"Rimian?" he asked in wonder.

"Severus?" Rimian laughed. "Severus!"

"But, how?" Snape asked.

"Clio," Melanie answered. "She can make things become how they once were."

"I see," Snape said. He looked over at Rimian.

"It is intriguing to see how some friendships never fade, no matter what has occurred between them," Erato said, floating down beside Melanie.

Melanie looked up at her in surprise. "What do you mean?"

Erato smiled. "I can see emotions between people. I can see how any two feel about each other, no matter how much they may try to hide it from themselves. That is my power." She looked over at Rimian and Snape, who were now talking like old friends. "Those two still bear a strong bond of friendship. I can see it."

Melanie looked over at the two men, smiling to herself.

"And I can still see a strong bond between you and one that you have lost," Erato said quietly.

Melanie took in a deep breath and did not look at Erato.

"Do not despair, though," Erato continued. "Those we love are always near, and always watching over us."

Melanie turned and nodded. Erato just smiled at her and glided back to stand by Clio and the others.

"Melanie, it's time," Euterpe whispered in her ear.

"You have done us a great service," Clio added. "You have our gratitude."

Melanie nodded, and looked at the vial sitting in her hand. She looked up at her uncle. "You'll disappear when I destroy this, won't you?" she asked.

"I would assume so," he answered. Melanie nodded, her eyes blinking back tears. "Don't worry," he assured her. "I'll always be watching over all of you. And we'll all see each other again one day."

Melanie took in a deep breath, nodding as her trembling hand gripped the vial.

She closed her eyes and let her hand throw the vial to the ground. It shattered as it hit the ground and the clear liquid sank into the dirt.

The muses faded into wisps of golden smoke that dissolved into the night.

"Take care of her for me, Severus," Rimian said as he, too, disappeared.

Melanie stood there for a moment, staring into the spot where Rimian had stood. Draco sighed and put his arm around her.

"It's all right," he assured her as more members of the Order started to walk out of the barn.

Snape looked from his escort to Melanie and Draco.

"It's late, and I think it's best that the two of you head back home. There will be enough things to be sorted out in the morning."

"Come on, Melanie," Draco whispered in her ear, gently grabbing her arm. "You've had a long night. You need your sleep."

Still in a form of daze, Melanie shook her head.

"Come on, hold on to my arm. Hogwarts, here we come."

~*~*~*~

When Melanie woke up the next morning, she had to lie in bed for a second to figure out if what had happened was real or not. She climbed out of bed and looked in her mirror, but she looked the same as she had the other day. She looked out of her window, but the sky looked like any other morning, not necessarily the morning after Voldemort's defeat. She turned to walk out into the common room, but noticed her wand sitting on her nightstand. Curious, she picked it up.

"Tarantallegra!" she shouted, and suddenly her legs began to dance about frantically.

"Oh, crap!" she yelled, quickly casting the countercurse. When her legs were back to normal, she stood there in shock. "It happened."

There was a quiet knock on the door.

"Hello?" Melanie asked.

The door cracked open and Pippy poked her head in. She saw that Melanie was awake and threw the door open.

"You did it, you did it, you did it!" she yelled, jumping up and down as she ran to Melanie and threw her arms around her. "I knew you could do it!"

Melanie laughed as she gently pried Pippy off of her.

"I didn't do much," Melanie told her. "So, I guess Tineah got you back here safely?"

Pippy nodded. "But I was so worried! My aunt made me go to sleep, but I just lay there, worrying. She finally came in after everyone got back and told me the good news and I couldn't sleep for hours!"

Melanie laughed. "If I wasn't so exhausted, I probably wouldn't have been able to go to sleep, either."

"So, what happened?" Pippy asked, jumping onto the bed. Melanie laughed and she sat down next to her on the bed and told her the whole story from when Tineah and Pippy had left. Pippy, of course, was able to predict what Voldemort had used the muses for. When Melanie had said that Draco had brought the potion she yelled out, "Please tell me you found the Musidora and cast the spell over it!"

She cried when Melanie told her about Stella, but seemed surprised when Melanie told her that it was Snape who had saved everyone else. Melanie had just about finished when Draco knocked on the door and stepped inside.

"I thought you'd still be asleep," he said, walking up next to her. "You had a long night."

"So did you," Melanie told him, giving him a kiss. "I was just telling Pippy what happened last night."

"Did you tell her how I saved the wizarding world by getting that Greek witch to cast the spell over the vial?" he asked, smiling and kissing her on the cheek.

"Yup, right after my grandfather flattered you so much by trying to kill you."

Draco laughed. "Well, I'll let you two finish catching up, but your parents are here to help us move back to the Hall."

"Oh," Melanie said. "Okay, I'll be out there in a minute." She stared into space as Draco walked out of the room. "Wow. I didn't even think about the fact that I'd be going home."

Pippy nodded. "Yeah. My aunt's been packing stuff up all morning."

"Yeah. I guess I've just gotten so used to being here that..."

"Don't talk like that!" Pippy told her. "It's too good of a day to think about stuff like that." She hopped off of the bed and walked to the door. "Everyone's going to a big party in the Great Hall tonight. I'll see you later!"

"Yeah," Melanie told her as Pippy walked out the door. When the door closed behind her, Melanie sighed. She shook her head and walked out into the common room where her parents were sitting on the couch.

"There you are!" her mother greeted. "We were wondering how much longer you were going to sleep."

"Now, Violetta, she had a long night," her father replied, not looking up from the Daily Prophet he was reading. Melanie could see two pictures of Harry and Voldemort on the front page with the headline "Victory over Voldemort."

"No longer than ours," Violetta threw back, but she smiled at Melanie. "But hurry up, dear, we want to have all of your things moved back home by dinner."

Melanie nodded as her father set down his newspaper and both of her parents stood up.

"All right. How about you start in the lab and we'll pack up the stuff in your room?" her mother suggested.

Melanie nodded again and her parents disappeared into her room. She sighed and walked into her lab. With a quick wave of her wand, all of her ingredients and tools were neatly packed into the trunk Draco had used to bring them over in the first place. All of her books filled up half of another trunk with just enough room for her cauldron. Melanie sighed and looked at the still-bubbling potion.

"What are you going to do with it?" a voice asked her. Melanie turned and saw Kathryn standing in the doorway, still in her nightgown.

"Scrap it, I guess," Melanie sighed. "It probably doesn't do anything anymore since the muses have moved on."

"It's like the end of an era," Kathryn said, moving up to the cauldron and looking inside. She shook her head as the potion remained clear. "I didn't have any dreams last night, I didn't have any visions, and I don't walk around anymore with the weight of a million memories. I can't believe that something that's been with me my entire life is gone." She looked at Melanie sadly.

"I know. It's hard to get used to the idea that we're just normal witches again."

"And what would you define as being a normal witch?" Scarlett asked, appearing in the doorway. "All I've ever known of it is some lunatic chasing after me."

"Well, in your case you can return to your stripper pole," Kathryn told her callously, still looking at the cauldron.

Scarlett glared at her. "You've always been jealous because it's something you can't do." She sighed. "Anyway, I really don't think I can go back."

"What?" Kathryn asked in surprise, turning to look at Scarlett.

"Well, if you're right and that whole spirit thing was the whole reason I was any good, then I don't really have a choice, now do I?"

Scarlett shrugged her shoulders and Kathryn laughed softly. "I bet Pig's Pimple doesn't sound so bad now, does it?"

Scarlett glared at her again. "You can laugh and look down at what I do, but it's all that I've ever known."

Kathryn lowered her eyes.

"Well," Melanie trailed off, breaking the awkward silence, "it looks like it's a new start for all of us." She raised her wand to the cauldron. "Scourify!"

And, in a flash, the cauldron was clean.

"That's it, then," Kathryn said softly.

"That's it," Melanie agreed, waving her wand and sending the cauldron into the trunk. It landed next to her books and the trunk closed with a thud.

Epilogue

By the end of the afternoon, Melanie and her parents had packed everything up and sent it over to Brienwald Hall. Melanie remained behind at Hogwarts for a bit longer, though, with the excuse that she wanted to check her room one more time to make sure that she hadn't forgotten anything. While she did take a few minutes to sweep over her room one last time, she spent most of her time on the couch in the empty common room. Melanie looked around the room where she has spent the last year, thinking on all that had happened.

"I thought you would have been gone by now," Kathryn said, emerging from her room and sitting down next to Melanie.

"Well, I just wanted a chance to think everything over before I left for good."

Kathryn nodded. "Of course. I need to figure out what I'm going to do, myself."

"You know, you're free to stay at Brienwald Hall for as long as you need to."

"Thanks. I might have to take you up on that offer." Kathryn sighed. "From what I hear, Hogwarts will be starting up again in the fall, so I don't think McGonagall will want an old woman like me hanging around."

Melanie looked at her in surprise. "Hogwarts is going to open again?" she asked.

Kathryn nodded. "Why wouldn't it? Voldemort's gone so there's no danger anymore."

Melanie looked dreamily around the room. "That means...that means that I can go back to school next year." She looked at Kathryn, eyes flashing with excitement. "I can get my N.E.W.T.S! I've been worried about what I was going to end up doing with only a year's worth of magic experience, but if I can go back to school I can take care of that."

"You'll be a year behind," Kathryn reminded her.

"Yes, but so will everyone else." Melanie smiled at her. "And it's not like I'm not used to being behind, you know."

Kathryn laughed as the door to Scarlett's room opened. She walked out, carrying two suitcases.

"Oh," she stammered, blushing. "I didn't know you two would still be here." She hurried over to the door.

"Where are you going?" Kathryn asked, eyeing Scarlett's suitcases.

Scarlett stopped, but didn't turn from the door. "Home. To forge whatever life I can manage now that my powers are gone." She took a deep breath and turned to face the two women on the couch. "See you later, ladies. If you're ever in muggle London, look me up."

"Muggle London?" Melanie asked in surprise. "Aren't you going to do anything with being a witch?"

Scarlett rolled her eyes. "Like what? You two have been trained in all that stuff. All I see is this stick that I'm supposed to be able use that doesn't work. I don't have a future here."

"What future do you have in muggle London?" Kathryn asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I have enough," she snapped. "I have my flat, I hope. I've been gone long enough, though, that my landlord might have thrown all my stuff out."

"What about a job, your family?"

Scarlett laughed. "Family? I was disowned before I was born. The second they found out that my mother was pregnant by a man she couldn't identify they didn't care about her or me anymore."

"Then where is your mother?" Melanie asked.

"She died when I was 10," Scarlett answered softly.

Kathryn's eyes opened. "What? That's before legal age. How did you live without a parent?"

"My legal guardian was the manager of the Kitty Kat Klub."

Everyone was quiet.

"And he was the one who turned down your letters for Hogwarts?"

Scarlett nodded. "Like he would let his rising star go off to a private school for wierdos." She shook her head. "It doesn't matter. That's my life and it suited me until all of this started happening." Scarlett sighed. "It doesn't matter. Thanks for the last four months." She turned and started to walk to the door.

"Stop right there," Kathryn demanded, standing up with an air of determination. "You're not going anywhere."

"What are you talking about?" Scarlett asked, turning around.

"You're coming to the party tonight," Kathryn told her, grabbing one of Scarlett's suitcases.

"I don't see why I need to," Scarlett protested, trying to grab the suitcase out of Kathryn's hand.

"And after that you're coming to live with me," Kathryn finished, grabbing the other suitcase. Scarlett's jaw dropped.

"You can't be serious!"

"I'm being perfectly serious, Scarlett. I'm not going to just let someone's magical talents go to waste if I can help it." She focused a stern look at Scarlett. "You can come with me to Brienwald Hall while I sell my house and then move with me when I buy a new one. I can teach you what you need to know magic-wise."

Scarlett was still looking at her in shock. "You would do that for me? I...I thought you hated me."

"I hated your job. And if you want a life other than that, by Merlin's beard I'm gonna make sure you get it!"

Without any warning, Scarlett raised her arms and gave Kathryn a gigantic hug. "Nobody has ever done anything that nice for me before."

"Consider it my maternal energies trying to find an outlet now that my sons are gone," Kathryn explained, trying to pry Scarlett off of her.

"But you don't have to sell your house for me," Scarlett said when she finally let go.

"I'm not selling it for you, Scarlett. I'm selling it so I don't have to be reminded of my family every moment for the rest of my life."

"But you could just come to my flat with me if you'd like. It is in the middle of muggle London, but if you don't mind that..."

"Umm..." Kathryn stammered uncertainly. "I wouldn't mind it, but..."

Scarlett rolled her eyes. "It's not a dump or anything. I made decent money at the Klub. I live next to a teacher," she added hopefully.

Kathryn considered it for a moment and a smile started to spread across her face. "Sounds good to me."

Melanie looked from Kathryn to Scarlett. "So you two are actually going to move in together?" she asked uncertainly.

"It looks that way," Scarlett said, looking at Kathryn. When Kathryn nodded, she smiled. "So, when's this party I need to go to?"

Kathryn laughed. "Not until after dinner, be patient," she replied as they both sat down.

"Well, who's all going to be there?" Scarlett asked.

Melanie shrugged her shoulders. "Everyone, I guess. The Order, our families..."

"What about the other girls?"

Kathryn and Melanie exchanged looks. "I don't know. Pippy and her aunt have already gone back to their house."

"And Aidra went back to France last night," Kathryn added. "I guess she really didn't have a reason to stay in England."

Scarlett sighed. "And I bet that Stephanie won't be in the mood to celebrate much." She looked over to the door leading to the twins' room. "Has she even done anything today?"

"She never came back last night," Kathryn told her.

"What?" Melanie asked, giving Kathryn a look of surprise. "What do you mean?"

"She went to the Weasley's. She had no family left, so Molly Weasley insisted she come home with them."

"Interesting." Melanie sighed. "But I guess it's not unbelievable." She shook her head. "What about Stella's funeral?"

Kathryn shrugged her shoulders. "They haven't decided yet. Probably something small in the next few days."

"Small is good," Scarlett agreed quietly.

"You know," Melanie said softly. "If all of this hadn't happened, they would both be back on their farm in Spain. If they hadn't been musea..."

"But they were," Kathryn told her firmly. "And you can't change that."

Melanie nodded and looked out of the window. "Now there are nine more." She laughed. "Nine babies out there that don't know what powers they have."

"They're all going to be the same age," Scarlett whispered to herself.

"Well, if you think about it, so were we," Kathryn replied.

Melanie gave her a curious look. "What do you mean?" she asked. "We weren't the same age...think about you, Pippy and Urania."

"But think about you and Scarlett and Stella and Steph and even Aidra and," Kathryn coughed, "Clytemnestra. You were all about the same age." She sighed. "And think about what was going on when you were all born, what was going on when the musea before you died."

Melanie nodded and looked around the room. A shiver went down her spine. "This wasn't Voldemort's first encounter with the muses."

~*~*~*~

The girls talked until it was time to head down to the Great Hall for the party. There was already a great crowd of people there, talking happily beneath the colorful banners hung from the ceiling.

"Melanie!" a voice shouted as they walked into the room.

"Rhonda!" Melanie shrieked as she ran and the two girls embraced.

They started to wander around the crowd. "Can you believe it?" Rhonda asked excitedly. "All of England's been celebrating all day!! They're calling it a national holiday."

Melanie laughed. "It better be. What else could deserve a holiday for?" Melanie looked around as they walked. "Are my parents here yet?"

Rhonda shook her head. "I don't think so. Of course, I just got here myself." Rhonda started to lead Melanie towards the table of refreshments. "But, you have got to try some of this food! The house-elves have outdone themselves!"

The girls giggled as they filled plates full of snacks. The crowd around them began to thicken as more people arrived and the two girls greeted friends as they passed the food table. Before long, Melanie noticed her mother out of the corner of her eyes.

"Mom!" Melanie yelled, leaving Rhonda and making her way through the crowd to where her mother was standing.

"There you are!" her mother said when as Melanie approached. "You were supposed to come back to the Hall before we came here!"

Melanie blushed. "Sorry, Mom. I completely forgot."

"We were waiting for you," Violetta continued as Melanie's father appeared next to her.

"Oh, don't be too harsh, Violetta. We're all here anyway, and it's not like there's much to be scared of anymore," he said, laughing. "Melanie, I think Draco's out in the hall."

"Thanks, Dad," Melanie said, pushing past the crowd to go outside. She found Draco in the entrance hall, looking down at the stone floor. "What are you doing out here?"

He looked up when he heard her voice and smiled. "There you are! I thought you might come here early." He walked up to her and kissed her on the cheek.

"That still doesn't answer my question of why you're out here," Melanie told him, pulling away.

"I'm waiting for someone," he answered, looking back towards the door.

"Who?"

"Well, if you had come home like you were supposed to you would know, wouldn't you?" he told her, his eyes flashing mischievously.

"What do you mean?"

"I was contacted about helping in a certain surprise. She was originally trying to get in touch with you, but when you decided to stay at Hogwarts all afternoon I was the second choice collaborator."

Melanie raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

"You'll see. Go back into the Great Hall. I'll be in shortly."

"Fine, then," Melanie huffed, turning around and walking back into the Great Hall, looking back at Draco once more before she walked inside.

Once inside, Melanie found her brother. "Simon, do you know what Draco's up to?"

Simon gave her a confused look. "What do you mean?"

"He's out in the hallway waiting for someone," Melanie explained as Simon's eyes drifted off towards the door. "Simon?" Melanie turned to follow his gaze and saw Rebecca standing timidly at the door next to Draco.

Without warning, Simon took off running towards the door and grabbed Rebecca, twirling her around as he hugged her. When he finally set her back down on the ground, he pulled her close to him and kissed her.

"Simon?" Violetta gasped from the edge of the crowd. She hurried over to him. "You and Rebecca...oh, that's marvelous!" She pushed past Simon to give Rebecca a big hug. Melanie laughed and walked over to Draco's side.

"So this was your big surprise?" she asked.

He nodded. "She wanted to surprise him-what else could I do?"

"Well, it was very nice," Melanie told him, giving him a hug. They laughed as Professor McGonagall's voice echoed through the Great Hall.

"Can I have everyone's attention?" The talking disappeared instantly, and all heads turned to the front of the room, where McGonagall was standing on a stage. "I know that today has been an exciting day. So many of us have been working so hard for so many years for this, and that is certainly worth celebrating."

McGonagall stopped talking and there was a moment of silence. "That being said, I would like to take a moment to honor those who gave all to make this victory possible." McGonagall waved her wand and a large screen appeared beside her. "We will honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice."

"Cedric Diggory," she announced solemnly, and a picture of a handsome young man in Hufflepuff robes appeared on the screen. "Sirius Black." Cedric's picture faded into a face bordered by long black, hair. That picture faded into another, and then another, as the list of names echoed throughout the Great Hall.

The silence that descended after the last of the names chilled Melanie's bones. There were tears forming in everyone's eyes, and many were holding each other. Draco reached out and grabbed Melanie's hand while she looked across the room at Kathryn and Scarlett, who returned her teary-eyed look.

McGonagall cleared her throat. "I did not do this that we would all be sad, but that we would all remember all those who helped us to get where we are today. Let's celebrate tonight and rejoice in what we have won, but always keep in mind those not here to enjoy it with us."

There was an eerie moment of silence before the Great Hall slowly began to break out in applause. The claps echoed off of the stone walls and were soon joined by cheers.

~*~*~*~

The next morning, Melanie woke up and looked around her room for a moment. The bright morning sunlight reflected off of her wooden furniture. She took in a deep breath of the morning air and smiled. Slowly, she extended her legs over the side of her bed and climbed out. Grabbing a robe, she headed down to breakfast. Her father was already there, and Melanie looked at him in surprise.

"The Ministry only gave you one day off?" she asked.

"Our work defeating Voldemort is hardly over," her father told her, finishing off his breakfast. "The Aurors have to imprison the Death Eaters captured at the battle, and others have to gather evidence so we can bring them all to trial hopefully next week." He stood up and kissed her on the forehead. "There are also Death Eaters still at large that need to be tracked down."

"They didn't get them all?" Melanie asked.

Her father nodded. "Only a few are still free, but a dangerous few. Apparently, once the Death Eaters realized that Voldemort had been killed some of them ducked out of the battle as quickly as they could." He looked eerily out the window. "Some of Voldemort's top Death Eaters are still out there, and we need to get them before they can regroup and maybe try to continue his work."

Melanie raised an eyebrow. "I would hardly consider them a threat if they ran away the second Voldemort died," she said disbelievingly.

Her father shrugged his shoulders. "We don't know why they ran away. All we know is that they're out there and we need to get them." He started to walk out the door. "I'll see you when I get back from work."

"Dad," Melanie said, stopping him. She climbed out of her chair and walked up to him. "Who are they? Which Death Eaters are still free?"

Octavian remained facing the door, silent for a moment. Eventually, he sighed. "Draco's father, for one." He turned to face Melanie. "And he's the one the Aurors are worried about the most."

Melanie's face whitened. "Oh." She looked down as her father took a step towards her.

"A few Aurors will probably be coming by today, hopefully someone you know," he explained quietly. "They're going to want to ask Draco some questions to try and figure out where his father is."

"But..."

"Draco is in no trouble, I promise you," Octavian assured her. "The Aurors just don't know where to look and Draco's the best source they have. Try to get him to be cooperative."

Melanie nodded, her face still white with surprise. "I'll try," she agreed, pulling her eyes up to look at Octavian.

"That's my girl," her father replied, giving her another kiss on the cheek. "Now I need to go before I'm late. See you tonight."

He walked out of the room and Melanie just stood there silently, thinking. Eventually, she walked back to the table and finished her breakfast.

It was later in the afternoon when the doorbell rang and Trinket came rushing into the living room followed by Tonks.

"Hey there, Melanie. How are things?"

Melanie nodded. "Good. I guess you're here for..."

"I just need to ask Draco some questions," Tonks interrupted reassuringly. "We know he's not a Death Eater, Melanie."

Melanie nodded. "I know. I'm just scared everyone will think he is because of his father."

"We're not. I promise you that." Tonks looked at her sincerely. "Now where is he?"

"I think he's up in his room. I haven't seen him much today."

Tonks nodded. "Thanks." She turned and left the room. Melanie sighed and returned to the book she was reading. Tonks reappeared a few minutes later.

"He's looking around in his mother's room looking for clues. Our latest information said they were together," Tonks explained when Melanie gave her an expectant look.

"Oh," Melanie replied, turning back to her book.

"But there is something I'd like to talk to you about, too, Melanie," she added, pulling up a chair to sit next to her.

Melanie looked up at her in surprise. "Of course. What is it?" She set the book on the table next to her.

"When we took Clytemnestra in, there was a large book with her," Tonks began.

"The Musidora," Melanie said to herself.

"What?" Tonks asked.

"The Musidora," Melanie repeated, this time louder. "It's a book full of spells that can control the muses. That's what Voldemort used to summon us."

"I see," Tonks said, her eyes gazing off into thought. "Well, we've been trying to decipher what's inside, but no translating spells will work."

"It's Greek," Melanie quickly replied.

"Greek or not, we can't figure out what it says. Thus, we can't figure out the extent of its power. We think that there's some anti-translation charm on it so that not just anyone can read it."

Melanie laughed. "That must be Polyhymnia's power. She can translate what's in the book."

"Then that does us no good, since Polyhymnia's either floating around in spirit form or residing inside a newborn baby right now."

"Well," Melanie trailed off, thinking about the night in the woods. "Clytemnestra could still read it after the muses were summoned out of us. Maybe her past connection to Polyhymnia allows her to still read it." She shrugged her shoulders. "If all else fails, she'd have the most knowledge of anyone of how many spells are in that book and what they all can do."

Tonks nodded as though she had expected what Melanie had said. "If that's the case, then the Ministry might be offering her a cut on her time in Azkaban in return for information."

"Really?" Melanie asked in surprise.

"Oh, yes. With the amount of power the musea demonstrated last night, the Ministry is willing to take great steps to make sure that nobody else gains that power. That includes making sure that we know exactly what powers the Musidora has."

Melanie nodded. "Clytemnestra seemed quite upset that Voldemort took her muse. It probably won't take much to get her to tell you anything you want to know."

"I know the type." Tonks laughed. "They'll follow whoever's in power. Now that Voldemort's gone, she won't be any problem." She nodded. "Thanks, Melanie."

They both looked up as the fireplace glowed green and Rhonda walked into the living room.

"Melanie! You're home!" She ran up to Melanie and gave her a big hug. Tonks looked at the two girls and smiled.

"I think I'll go upstairs and see what Draco's turned up."

"Draco?" Rhonda asked as Tonks left the room.

Melanie nodded. "They're trying to figure out where his parents are."

"They didn't capture them the other night?"

Melanie shook her head. "They got away. Well, at least Draco's father did. Nobody's known where his mother's been for some time."

Rhonda shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe they'll randomly show up at the wedding." She giggled. "Speaking of the wedding, when are you going to have it?"

Melanie's face quickly erupted in a broad smile. "This summer sometime. I was going to talk to Draco more about it today after Tonks left," Melanie explained. "I think it's best if we have it this summer before we go back to Hogwarts for our N.E.W.T.s."

"Ugh," Rhonda groaned. "Don't remind me. Do you realize how hard it's going to be to go back to school after an entire year off? Not to mention that we have to take our N.E.W.T.s, too!"

Melanie laughed. "Nobody's saying that you have to take them, Rhonda. You can try to get a job with just your O.W.L.s."

Rhonda grumbled to herself. "You know I'd never get a decent job."

Melanie laughed as Draco walked in the door. "What's so funny?"

"Rhonda's grumbling about her N.E.W.T.s," Melanie told him, smiling.

"Well, we've all been put into that situation," Draco told Rhonda. "Everybody will just have to figure out a way around it."

"Well, how is Hogwarts going to get around having a married couple among the students?" Melanie teased. "Not to mention a married couple in two different houses."

"What?" Draco asked. "Why would they have to deal with that?"

Melanie looked at Draco in surprise. "I thought you still wanted to get married this summer."

"I do, but why do we have to go back to Hogwarts? The school was closed for our seventh year, end of story."

"But we have to go back and get our N.E.W.T.s," Melanie replied.

Draco laughed. "I'm not going to go back to be a seventh year when I'm far past the proper age."

"Then what exactly are you planning on doing?" Melanie asked, looking at Draco in disbelief.

"Marrying you," he replied, walking over and giving her a kiss on the cheek, "and then starting a life with you here outside of school. I don't need any N.E.W.T.s to do that."

Melanie pushed him away. "You're not daddy's little boy anymore, Draco. Your money's gone, Malfoy Manor is burnt down, and your family's name has been dragged through the dirt! You don't really think you can slide by without any schooling, do you?"

Draco nodded his head. "Of course. I think that we will be able to do just fine."

"No, we won't! We won't be able to support ourselves, much less a family! Draco, we can't get married if there's no security in our future!"

Draco laughed. "What are you going to do, back out of the wedding now after all we've done?"

"Yes," Melanie answered, a solemn look on her face.

"What?" Draco's eyes widened and he looked at her in surprise. "You wouldn't..."

"Draco, planning for the future is just an important as any other preparations for the wedding-maybe even more so. Two people cannot get married if they have no way to support themselves!"

"But we can support ourselves. We'll be just fine."

"No, we won't. Get that point through your head!"

"What are you saying, then? That we should postpone the wedding?" He laughed. "Or maybe you want to call it off entirely?"

Melanie sighed. "I don't want to call it off, Draco."

"Then stop talking nonsense..."

"But I can't get married with this much uncertainty in the future!" She paused, and there was silence. Her eyes met Draco's and she sighed. "I'm not leaving you, Draco, but I will not walk down that aisle until I have a future to walk towards. That's my final word." Melanie gave him a sad glance before turning and hurrying off towards her lab.

Draco turned to Rhonda. "What was that about? What kinds of ideas have you been getting into her head?" he yelled at her before turning and storming off to his room.

Rhonda looked speechlessly from side to side as Trinket hurried into the room.

"Where is Mistress Melanie?"

Rhonda just shook her head as the house-elf continued. "There are visitors here to see her."

"Great, more people who can yell at me," she whispered to herself as Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione walked through the door.

"Hi, Rhonda!" Ginny greeted cheerfully. "Where's Melanie?"

"She and Draco just had a fight," Rhonda explained as a loud bang came from Melanie's lab. She sighed. "I don't think it's the best time to talk to either of them."

"What's going on?" Hermione asked.

Rhonda shook her head. "Melanie mentioned going back to Hogwarts next year to finish her N.E.W.T.s, Draco said that he didn't need to because he could get by without them, and then Melanie started yelling at him saying she couldn't get married if she wasn't sure that they could support themselves."

"She's being mental." Ron shook his head.

"I think she's being very sensible," Hermione countered, removing her hand from Ron's and crossing her arms in front of her chest.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Sensible or not, it's too good of a day to have even those two fighting." He looked at Rhonda. "You get Draco, I'll get Melanie."

"Of course, make me get Draco," Rhonda muttered as she walked upstairs to Draco's room.

It took ten minutes of good coaxing before Draco was willing to come downstairs, where Melanie was already slouching in a chair.

"Come on you two, be happy," Ginny announced enthusiastically. "I would think planning a wedding would put everyone in a good mood."

Draco glared at Melanie. "Well, that's only if there's going to be a wedding."

"Don't look at me as though it's my fault, Draco," Melanie replied, returning his look with a face of solid stone.

"Come on!" Harry told them. "We have good news, really good news."

"Potter, I should have known you'd be pathetic enough to be this excited that Hogwarts will be opened again next term," Draco replied, not taking his eyes off of Melanie.

"That's not the news, if you'd even take time to listen to me, Malfoy," Harry growled. He set his own eyes in a glare at Draco.

Ginny and Hermione exchanged looks and sighed.

"Fleur had her baby!" Ginny yelled out before there could be any bloodshed in the room. All of the glares vanished and everyone focused their attention on her. "A baby girl, Lorraine."

A smile slowly formed across Melanie's face. "That's wonderful!"

"We were hoping that you would come with us to see her," Hermione added. "That is, if you two can keep the peace for that long."

"You really don't expect us to just kiss and make-up, do you, Granger?" Draco asked, his glare returning.

"Of course not," Hermione countered. "But I do expect you to possibly be mature enough to last for one hour in the presence of other people."

Draco opened his mouth to reply when Trinket scurried into the room, followed by another house-elf.

"Mistress Melanie! Mistress Melanie! Kreacher's returned!" She stopped in front of Melanie's chair. Everyone's eyes turned to Kreacher, who stopped chasing Trinket when he realized everyone had noticed him and tried to disappear back into the kitchen.

"Oh, no you don't!" Harry yelled, running after the house-elf and catching him. "Where have you been?"

"With Mistress Malfoy," Kreacher reluctantly answered.

"Why are you with her? You were supposed to protect Melanie!" Harry yelled, picking Kreacher up by his ears.

"But I did, Master!" he slyly protested.

"By letting her be captured? Where were you?"

"I was protecting her! By keeping Mistress from her I kept her safe!"

Harry rolled his eyes and glared at the elf. "I should have known you would twist my words somehow." Harry shook him again firmly. "Where are they now, then? Where are the Malfoys?"

"There's one right there," he said, looking right at Draco.

"I mean Draco's parents!"

Kreacher just shook his head.

"Kreacher, I command you to tell me where Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy are!"

The room was silent as Kreacher began to speak against his own will.

"They are at the ruins of Malfoy Manor. I was to come here and fetch Master Draco so that all three of them can leave England together."

Melanie looked over at Draco as Harry dropped Kreacher and took off for the door.

"Harry, wait! We should wait for the Order!" Ron shouted as he, Hermione, and Ginny followed him out.

"By then they might be gone," Harry's voice echoed as the front door slammed.

Melanie looked from the door back to Draco as he took off towards the living room.

"Draco, wait! Don't go!"

"What, and let Potter get my parents?" he threw back as he grabbed some floo powder. "Maybe I should go with them. Maybe I'm the one who's been going in the wrong direction." With a puff of green light, Draco disappeared.

Melanie looked at the fireplace in shock for just a second before she called for Trinket.

"Yes, Mistress?"

"Contact the Ministry. Tell them the Malfoys are at the ruins of Malfoy Manor."

"Yes, Mistress!" Trinket squeaked as she hurried out of the room.

"And you," Melanie said sternly, turning to where Kreacher was starting to slink out of the room. "You're coming with me to the Manor and showing me exactly where the Malfoys are hiding."

~*~*~*~

Miles away, Draco was emerging from an old fireplace into the ruins of what had once been his grand house. The brick chimney and its stack still stood upright, but little else did. Among the still-remaining structure was one back wall. It stood tall, casting a shadow over the already dark, ash-strewn ground. Instinct led him behind the wall, his feet crunching over old belongings now so scarred by fire that they were unrecognizable.

As Draco turned around the wall, he saw a wand pointed right at him. A second later, his father had withdrawn it and stepped further into the light.

"Draco. Good, now we can go." Lucius turned to pick up one of the bags leaning against the wall.

Narcissa also appeared out of the shadows and looked curiously at her son. "Is Melanie with you?"

Draco shook his head, watching his father carefully. "Why would she be?"

"Good," Lucius said, not turning from the bag he was picking up. "Never thought she was right for you, anyway." Draco looked down as his father turned towards them. "Shall we leave, then?"

Narcissa nodded and Draco looked at the ruins around him.

"Draco?"

Draco shook his head. "I don't know..."

"Don't know what?" Lucius demanded. "What else is there for you in England? You were misled by that girl and I can accept it. She probably slipped you some love potion when you weren't looking. I can also accept that you turned away from the Dark Lord." He moved to within an inch of Draco's face. "Don't turn away from me."

Draco looked at his father. "You can't force me to leave."

"I am your father!" he howled, throwing the bags back on the ground.

"Right, and now you're going to spend a lot of time in Azkaban," a voice replied as Harry rounded the wall. He pointed his wand at Lucius. "It's over."

"Far from it, Potter," Lucius growled, pulling out his own wand. "I've fought you once, and this time dear old Sirius won't come to your rescue." He began to shoot curses towards Harry as Ron, Hermione, and Ginny rounded the wall as well. With one spell, Lucius knocked out Ginny.

"Narcissa! Draco!" Lucius cried, and Narcissa drew her wand to help her husband.

"Mother," Draco pleaded, holding out a hand to keep her from joining the fight.

"But it's your father..."

Draco didn't reply, but only looked at the fight silently.

"Malfoy!" Harry shouted to Draco. "Make a choice! You can't just sit on the sidelines this time!"

Draco leapt up and pulled out his wand. "What, do you expect me to attack my own father, Potter?"

Harry pulled out of the fight and stared Draco down. "I expect you to do something besides sit there." He turned back around in time to see Lucius knock out Ron, creating a duel between him and Hermione. Quickly, he jumped back into the fight. "Come on!" he shouted back to Draco.

"This may come as a surprise to you, Potter, but I don't take orders from you, savior of the wizarding world or not!" Draco pointed his wand at Harry.

"Draco, no!" Melanie shouted, suddenly appearing with Kreacher.

Draco turned to look at her, his wand still aimed at Harry. "Melanie, what are you doing here?"

"Keeping you from doing something stupid, like attacking Harry." She ran up to him and pushed down his wand. She noticed the fight between Lucius and Hermione and gasped. Harry glanced at her.

"Melanie! Either convince your boyfriend to choose a side or get over here yourself and help me!" Harry barely had a chance to turn around before Lucius stunned him in the back. Melanie shrieked as he fell down at her feet, and with Harry's figure no longer blocking her view, she saw Hermione's limp body by Ron and Ginny's.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Violetta's little bundle of joy," Lucius growled as he slowly walked up to her. "I know all of the wizarding world thinks Potter's their savior that brought down the Dark Lord, but I blame it on someone less well known." He drew his wand and pointed it at Melanie.

"Move aside, Draco," Lucius told him calmly, continuing to move forward. "If it wasn't for this girl and those muses, the Dark Lord would still be alive today."

"Father?" Draco asked uncertainly.

"She's cast a spell over you, Draco, can't you see it? You've never been the same since she showed up. She pulled you away from your duties to the Dark Lord, pulled you to the side of the Order." He spat on the ground. "I know you can't get rid of her yourself, but be man enough to move aside and let me do the job for you."

Melanie's eyes widened and she brought out her wand, which shook uncontrollably. She looked pleadingly at Draco.

Draco looked from her to Lucius. "Father, you can't..."

"Move. Draco, I won't say it again."

"Draco," Melanie pleaded.

"Mother, you can't let him do this!" Draco turned to look at Narcissa, who had backed away. Tears filled her eyes as she looked from Melanie and Draco to her husband.

"Letta," she whispered to herself, keeping her distance.

"Draco, this is your last warning," his father repeated loudly.

Draco looked into Melanie's eyes and pulled out his wand.

"No," he said firmly, turning to his father and pulling Melanie behind him.

"Draco!" Lucius yelled.

"No, Father," Draco replied, still holding his wand out towards Lucius.

Lucius's face turned hard as stone as he pointed his wand towards his son. He opened his mouth but his wand soon flew out of his hand.

"Stop right there, Lucius!" Arthur Weasley commanded, appearing on the scene with a group of other Order members. Before Melanie had a chance to realize what was going on, Lucius and Narcissa were in the hands of the Order, and Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were being cared for.

"I don't think anyone is seriously harmed," Mr. Weasley commented as he walked up to Melanie and Draco. "Are you two all right?"

Draco looked at Melanie, who nodded. "Just a little shook up, but nothing major," he replied, not taking his eyes off of her.

Arthur nodded. "Then you two better head home. I don't think Violetta will be very happy to find out that you two went gallivanting off like that."

Melanie groaned. "She's going to kill me."

"Better than what Ron and Ginny have waiting for him at home, though, I'm sure," he laughed. "But you two best be going. We have everything under control here."

Draco nodded and together he and Melanie apparated to Brienwald Hall. Sure enough, Violetta was waiting for their return.

"Your father sent a message that you two were at the ruins of Malfoy Manor when Draco's parents were captured! What on earth were you two doing out there?"

"Mom, we..." Melanie protested.

"Are not Aurors!" Violetta interrupted. "Just because you helped to defeat Voldemort - which was a miracle in itself that you didn't get killed - does not mean that you're able to help capture two very dangerous Death Eaters on your own!"

"It's not her fault," Draco explained. "She came after me. Potter was going after my parents and I had to stop him."

"But still," Violetta protested, her firmness wavering, "it was very dangerous. You should have at least asked for help."

"I did!" Melanie told her. "I sent Trinket to the Ministry before I left."

"But you still acted rashly. It's a miracle one of you didn't get hurt! I don't want either of you to leave the house for the rest of the day, do you hear me? I'm trying to get everything back together after all that's happened and the last thing I need is worrying about you two."

Melanie rolled her eyes and nodded. "Yes, Mom," she agreed as Violetta turned and disappeared back upstairs. After she had left, Melanie turned to Draco.

"How are you holding up?"

"Well, both of my parents are being dragged to Azkaban and Potter probably wants to kill me," he sighed, "but neither of those seem to matter much when I think that I almost lost you."

"What?" Melanie asked, raising an eyebrow. "If you had let your parents kill me, you wouldn't have to worry about settling our argument."

Draco glared at her. "Oh, yes, what was I thinking?" he asked sarcastically. "I should have let my father kill the girl I love because we had a fight. It's so clear to me now."

"Well, when you say it like that..."

"Is that really all you think of me? You broke my heart when you said you didn't want to marry me anymore."

"I didn't mean it like that..." Melanie interrupted.

"But you did say it." He looked at her silently for a minute.

Melanie sighed. "So, what are we going to do about it? Now that we aren't yelling at each other over it any more, at least."

Draco sat down on a couch. "I don't know. I don't want to go back to Hogwarts. Not after all that's happened."

"And I can't make you," Melanie replied, sitting down next to him. "But do you realize how hard it's going to be to find a good job without your N.E.W.T.s?"

"But there are going to be loads of students without them. Think about the fifth years...they didn't even get to finish their O.W.L.s."

Melanie shook her head. "But they can go back and get them," she explained as Rhonda walked into the room.

"That's what I get for going to the bathroom, eh? I leave for a second and you guys go off to capture Death Eaters."

Melanie laughed. "I was so mad at Draco I didn't even noticed you had left."

Rhonda rolled her eyes. "I see how important I am."

"Well, be glad you missed the action," Draco added.

"We've been confined to the house by my mother," Melanie finished.

"Ouch," Rhonda agreed, sitting down on a chair across from them. "Maybe it's good I didn't go. But, at least now you two can be in a room without yelling at each other, right?" She gave them a hopeful smile.

"Almost. We still don't know what we're doing."

"But I think the lack of yelling is a sign of progress."

"Maybe," Draco replied gloomily.

The door opened and Simon poked his face inside. "Mom told me to check and make sure you hadn't run off."

"No, we're still here," Melanie told him miserably.

He nodded. "Well, Rebecca and I are heading out to Diagon Alley. See you later!"

"Bye," Melanie grumbled as he left. His face returned a second later.

"Oh, and there's someone here to see you," he added, withdrawing once more. The door opened the rest of the way as Professor McGonagall walked in the room.

"Hello, Professor," they all chirped in unison, Melanie and Draco's voices still rather gloomy.

"So, I hear that today has been an exciting day," she began, raising an eyebrow, as she sat down near them. Melanie and Draco both stared down at the ground. She ignored their inattention and continued. "Well, I'm here because I'm discussing possible N.E.W.T options with old students. Hogwarts being closed this year has caused quite a number of problems for students your age."

Melanie and Draco exchanged looks. "Really?" Draco asked sarcastically.

Melanie threw him a warning look. "What are you thinking about doing?" she asked.

"Well, the most obvious answer is to allow students to re-enroll next year for the classes they would have taken this year and simply have double the number of first-years."

"Great," Draco muttered, and Melanie rolled her eyes.

"Anything else?" she asked hopefully.

"Well, we are thinking of having a summer session for those students working towards N.E.W.T.s and O.W.L.s. The tests would be given right as term is starting for the other students, but it allows a chance for older students to catch up to where they were."

"Is it possible to learn enough to pass the tests after just one summer?"

"Well, the Ministry has agreed to slightly lower different levels under the circumstances," McGonagall replied. "But it will still be a very hard summer for those students who wish to take that option. Nothing is set in stone yet, but does that sound like something that would be appealing to students in your situation?"

Draco looked at Melanie. "It sounds like a good compromise for us. We wouldn't be able to get married this summer with all the classes, but it would settle this argument."

Melanie nodded and turned to McGonagall. "It definitely sounds like a good idea. Will you let us know when you decide whether or not to do that?"

McGonagall grinned to herself. "Of course. But are there any other ideas that you can come up with?"

There was silence in the room as the group pondered possible ideas, but no one could come up with anything other than the summer session.

After a few minutes, McGonagall nodded. "All right, then. If anyone comes up with another idea, please let me know." She stood up and walked towards the door.

"Oh, I forgot something," she said to herself, turning around. "Melanie, I told the Minister that I would come here and tell you."

"Tell me what?" Melanie asked.

"All of the former musea, with the exception of Clytemnestra of course, have been awarded Order of Merlin, 2^nd Class, for their efforts during the fight against Voldemort."

Melanie's jaw dropped. "What?"

"You heard me correctly, Melanie. The Order of Merlin, 2^nd Class. The Ministry wishes to recognize the part the musea played in the fall of Voldemort."

"But why only 2^nd Class?" Rhonda exclaimed. "With all that Melanie did, she deserves 1^st Class!"

McGonagall shrugged her shoulders. "The Ministry determines the awards, and they're hesitant to give Orders of Merlin out to a bunch of teenagers. They're already giving 1^st Classes out to Harry, Hermione, and Ron, and it would be too much to give more out to students."

Melanie looked over at Rhonda. "And I understand. I wouldn't want to diminish all the work and danger they've had these years. I'm honored enough with 2^nd Class."

McGonagall nodded. "True."

"Wait," Draco said. "Does this mean a centaur is going to be receiving an Order of Merlin?"

"It does indeed, Mr. Malfoy. There was a lot of debate at the Ministry, but they finally decided that if they were to give an Order of Merlin to one of the musea, they would have to present it to all of them."

"Even a centaur?" Rhonda asked.

McGonagall nodded with a smile. "Yes, even a centaur. I think Tineah inadvertently might have just made the single largest step in improving centaur-wizard relations in 100 years."

Melanie laughed. "I'm sure she'll be glad to know that." She looked over at Rhonda. "What about Rhonda and Draco? They're not musea, but they put in as much effort as I did. Are they going to get anything?"

McGonagall just shook her head with a sigh. "Like I said before, the Ministry is hesitant to give too many out to students, and they don't think that Rhonda and Draco did not do enough to merit an Order of Merlin."

"But they did just as much as I did!" Melanie protested.

"I am not the one who gives out the awards-that's the Ministry's job," McGonagall reminded. "I told them the names of those I believed deserved Orders of Merlin, but the decision was ultimately theirs."

The room was quiet.

"However," McGonagall continued. "As Headmistress of Hogwarts, I was able to convince the Ministry to bestow another sign of gratitude."

Draco looked up in surprise. "What would that be?"

"I have made arrangements with the Ministry to grant honorary N.E.W.T.s in all subjects you were passing at the conclusion of last year to those students involved in the defeat of Voldemort."

"Then why did you come here asking about suggestions for next year?" Melanie asked, taken aback.

"I wanted to keep the surprise a secret." McGonagall smiled. "But, you are all hereby granted the following N.E.W.T.s..."

She pulled several pieces of parchment out from her robe. She handed one to Rhonda. "Miss Mittenborn, N.E.W.T.s in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration, and, of course, Charms."

McGonagall turned to Draco. "And for you, Mr. Malfoy, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, and Charms." She handed him a piece of parchment.

"And, then, Miss Brienwald. After just one year of formal magical study, I present to you N.E.W.T.s in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Charms, and Potions."

"Thank you," Melanie told her, looking in wonder at her N.E.W.T.s. "I just find this so hard to believe."

"You've worked hard," McGonagall said as she stood up. "Now, if there are no more questions, I need to go give Miss Granger all of her N.E.W.T.s"

"Better hurry before she starts studying too much for next year." Melanie laughed as Professor McGonagall walked out of the door.

"So, it looks like we don't have too much more to argue about," Draco told Melanie after McGonagall had left, looking down at his piece of parchment. He looked up at her and grinned. "See, I told you everything would work out."

~*~*~*~*

The next day's Daily Prophet featured a schedule of Death Eater trial for the next week with 3-5 trials each day. From what Octavian told his family the few hours he was home each day, it seemed that the Ministry had been working nonstop to be prepared for the trials in that little of time.

"The Ministry just wants to put this chapter of history behind us as quickly as possible," he explained at breakfast one morning.

As the week of the trials began, Melanie was told that Stephanie had gone back to her home in Spain to bury her sister privately, but a small reception was being planned for everyone to bring their condolences and support her on Wednesday before she testified at the trial of Stella's killer on Thursday.

Melanie and Draco did not attend any of the trials on Monday and Tuesday because they knew that the trials of Wednesday and Thursday would bring enough stress on their own. On Wednesday, before they visited Stephanie at the Weasley house, they journeyed into the depths of the Ministry of Magic for the trial of Draco's parents.

Melanie held Draco's hand tightly as they sat down near the door, following the instructions of the aurors who had met with Draco the night before. As Draco had agreed with the aurors, his testimony came first and was neither for nor against his parents. He merely answered the Wizengamot's questions and let them decide how to interpret what he had to say.

Lucius Malfoy seemed to think that his son's testimony was more against than for him, for he yelled at Draco as he returned to his seat next to Melanie.

"You are no son of mine!" he shouted, pulling against the chains that kept him in his chair. Beside him, Narcissa simply cried, her head bent down low. "You will be punished for your treason!"

Wordlessly, Draco returned to his seat without taking his eyes off of the ground in front of him. Melanie stopped watching him and looked towards Lucius. He was staring back at her, a horrible glare as though he was trying to curse her with just his thoughts. Melanie returned his glare, sitting up proudly as she grabbed Draco's hand and pulling herself next to his side.

Draco squeezed her hand throughout the rest of the trial, which was strangely short and mostly centered around Lucius's actions. Draco's mother was hardly mentioned at all. Nonetheless, she was still sentenced to three months in Azkaban. Draco's father, on the other hand, was sentenced to a life term. He took the news silently and with a stony expression on his face. As he disappeared through the door, Draco took in a deep breath.

"That's the last time I will ever see his face," he said emotionlessly. Melanie squeezed his hand firmly and he let go to put his arms around her. The courtroom was nearly empty when Draco finally pulled back and sighed. "Well, shouldn't we be going to the Weasley's?"

The Weasley house was the natural location for the post-burial visitation for Stella, since Stephanie had not left there since the final battle. Molly Weasley had opened her heart and home to the mourning orphan, and stories quickly spread about the Weasley twins using jokes and tricks to brighten her mood.

Indeed, as a majority of the musea gathered together in one room, Stephanie managed to give a few smiles to everyone.

"I guess we shouldn't even really refer to each other as musea anymore, should we?" Kathryn announced as they all sat around a single couch, which magically widened to allow Stephanie, Scarlett, Pippy, and Melanie to all sit upon it.

"That's a depressing thought," Scarlett said, dressed in new periwinkle wizard robes. "How about former musea? That's still true."

Pippy groaned. "Former or not, I still have to learn to study like a real person now."

Everyone laughed quietly.

"So, how have the Weasleys been treating you?" Scarlett asked.

The first broad smile of the day formed on Stephanie's face. "They've been wonderful. Especially Fred and his twin brother - they're always trying to cheer me up. They bring me things from their shop. Yesterday, Fred brought me a bouquet of flowers that paint your nose red when you smell them."

Scarlett gave her a suspicious look. "That sounds rather cruel."

"I don't think so," Fred said, walking into the room. "Steph thought it was great fun." He turned to Stephanie. "Mum told me to tell you that Charlie's leaving if you want to say good-bye."

"Sí," Stephanie replied, standing up. "I'll be right back," she told the girls as she left.

Kathryn watched her leave. "She's handling all of this quite well."

"She's a strong cookie," Melanie remarked. "Tomorrow's going to be tough day for her."

~*~*~*~*~

The next morning, Melanie and Draco found themselves once again standing outside of the door to the courtroom in the lower level of the Ministry of Magic.

Melanie stared at the door. "I don't want to do this again," she muttered.

Draco pulled her inside with the flow of the people around them. "Again? You weren't the one who testified and was disowned by your father."

Melanie looked at him wordlessly as they sat down in the far corner next to Scarlett and Kathryn and the others. As the Wizengamot began to enter the room, the Weasleys arrived and sat down next to their group.

The trial was surprisingly short and smooth. Stephanie was the first witness called, and when she was done she joined their group in the stands. As the other two witnesses gave their testimony, Melanie looked out of the corner of her eye and saw Stephanie's hand join with Fred Weasley's.

Ron, sitting behind Melanie, noticed as well. "What is it with my brothers and girls who can't speak English?" He sighed.

As the trial finished and another life sentence in Azkaban was issued, Melanie turned to Mr. Weasley in his seat next to Ron. "Mr. Weasley, are all the other trials going this quickly?"

He nodded. "Amazingly, yes. Everything just seems to be falling into place. And with Voldemort really dead, we're not being met with much opposition." He took in a deep breath. "I have a feeling the next one will not go so easily, though."

Melanie gave him a surprised look. "Why? Whose is it?"

"Snape's," Mr. Weasley answered simply.

Melanie's eyes widened as one of the wizards on the floor proclaimed: "The Wizengamot will now take a break of fifteen minutes before the beginning of the trial of Severus Snape."

As the Wizengamot departed for their break, many of the observers also left. Melanie turned to look at Draco.

"We have to stay. I need to see..."

Draco nodded. "I feel the same way. We'll stay."

"Thanks." Melanie nodded her head and turned her attention silently to the empty floor. "What kind of chance do you think he has?"

"I don't know. I hear Potter is testifying about when he killed Dumbledore."

"And I'm testifying about how he saved our lives!" Kathryn interrupted, standing up. She shrugged her shoulders. "I couldn't just sit here and do nothing. In fact, I need to be getting down there."

Melanie nodded and they let her pass. After she had left, Melanie turned to Draco again. "Do you think that will be enough?"

Draco looked at her uncertainly. "I don't know. The word of the savior of the wizarding world against her? The death of Dumbledore against the lives of a few girls? I don't know what they will decide."

Melanie took a deep breath and nodded. "We'll see."

As Mr. Weasley had predicted, Snape's trial was more intense and lengthy than any of the other Death Eater's (even Draco's parents'). Harry and Kathryn were not the only ones testifying, as there were many on each side that seemed convinced of either Snape's guilt or his innocence. Still, those convinced of Snape's guilt seemed to overwhelm those defending him.

Finally, Professor McGonagall took the stand.

"Minerva, you took over leadership of the Order of the Phoenix after Albus Dumbeldore's death, correct?" Rufus Scrimgeour asked from his seat in the center of the Wizengamot.

McGonagall nodded. "Yes, that and the leadership of Hogwarts."

"Until his death, Dumbledore seemed convinced of Snape's loyalty to the Order, correct?"

McGonagall nodded again. "Correct."

"Did you think the accused's role in the death of Dumbledore to be the defining sign of Snape's loyalty to Voldemort?"

"At the time, yes."

"At the time?" Scrimgeour gave McGonagall a surprised look.

McGonagall nodded. "Yes. Recent events have changed my opinion somewhat."

There was a murmur throughout the court.

"You mean when Snape saved the lives of four young women?"

"That, as well as information that has come to my attention since then." McGonagall drew out a glass vial from her robes. "I wish to submit the memory of Albus Dumbledore."

The murmur throughout the room turned into a ruckus, and the Wizengamot tried desperately to calm them down.

"We cannot accept memories! They could be tainted!"

McGonagall cleared her throat. "It is the custom of the Wizengamot to accept memories as evidence when their host is deceased."

"But they could be tainted!"

"No more than any evidence given in this court," McGonagall replied coolly.

More objections were voiced among the Wizengamot until a pudgy female witch at the end cleared her throat and stood up.

"Dumbledore has been the most highly regarded wizard of our time. I trust Minerva's loyalty to him to keep his memory unaltered"

"I agree," small wizard near Scrimgeour agreed, jumping to his feet. "I think that we should accept this evidence into consideration both out of fairness and respect for Dumbledore."

Slowly, the remainder of the Wizengamot voiced their agreement.

"We will hear this memory, then," Scrimgeour finally announced, motioning to one of the guards, who brought out a large pensieve. The guard pointed his wand at it, and the image drifted into the air for everyone to see.

Melanie recognized Dumbledore's office, and she saw Dumbledore and a ragged looking Snape both sitting down.

"I swear...I didn't know...if I had known...Lily..." Snape trailed off. He was hunched down. "I've sentenced them to death."

"Not necessarily, Severus. There are ways to protect them." Dumbledore stood up and paced behind his desk. "Although I am surprised that you have come here. Lord Voldemort does not take kindly to betrayal."

"But Lily..." Snape trailed off."

"What on Earth?" Draco muttered. Melanie looked over at him and saw Harry at the far end of the crowd, clenching his fists. Melanie turned back to the memory.

"He was in love with Lily," Melanie whispered to herself.

Dumbledore must have figured that out, as well, for he was giving Snape an amused look.

"It is not like you, Severus, to care so much for one who is muggle-born."

"Do not attempt to patronize me. Don't think that I am proud of it."

"Yet you do have feelings for her."

"Yes," Snape muttered, almost disgusted at the thought.

"And you will risk all to help not only her but her child of another man?"

"Don't remind me," Snape growled.

Dumbledore nodded. "Of course. But that is indeed what you wish to do?"

"I wish to only help Lily." Snape stood up. "I am not fighting with you, only asking how I may help to save her."

Dumbledore looked at him silently for a moment, then nodded. "I understand. Professor Slughorn is wishing to retire before next year. Take his place as potions master and then I will be able to let you know how to help."

"But the Dark Lord wished me to come here to teach Defense against the Dark Arts!"

"And he will accept this arrangement, as well. He simply wants you near to observe my actions. And you want to be near to save Lily."

Snape breathed heavily. "All right...I agree."

The memory clouded until it reformed into Dumbledore's office, but Melanie could tell that it was later. Snape's robes were tattered, burnt, and there were noticeable tears streaming down his face.

"How could he? He promised!" Snape yelled.

Dumbledore, simply watching Snape, sighed. "Severus, you should have known better than to trust Lord Voldemort. Why he would agree to spare the life of a muggle-born witch..."

"But he did," Snape replied through gritted teeth. "And like a fool I believed him. I should have done more to save her."

"You did all you could, Severus."

"Yes, and now I must face my fate with the rest of the Death Eaters."

"Not necessarily," Dumbledore told him, standing up. "I can testify before the Wizengamot that you were on our side, as a spy for the Order."

"Honestly, Dumbledore. I doubt that my small attempt to save Lily will seem enough to exonerate me from all I have done."

"No, but what you do in the future might."

Snape raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, Dumbledore? What more is there to do?"

"Lord Voldemort is not finished, Severus," Dumbledore explained quietly. "Although I believe he has been weakened substantially, I do not think he is completely gone. Somehow, he will find a way to return."

"And what do you wish me to do?"

"Join the Order. Help us to round up the last of the Death Eaters and promise to aid us if Voldemort reappears."

Snape gave him a curious look. "You will let me go free on a promise?"

"On a vow, Severus," Dumbledore returned. "Make the Unbreakable Vow that you will serve the Order and act as a spy against Voldemort until his final defeat."

"An Unbreakable Vow? Dumbledore, not even the Dark Lord requires the Unbreakable Vow for the loyalty of his followers."

"Yes, but as you have found out tonight, Severus, there is no other way to be certain of a promise." Dumbledore fixed his eyes on Snape.

Snape looked down and considered things for a while. "What would this require, then, Dumbledore?"

"To be a spy. I will allow you to do as you need to secure your place among Lord Voldemort's followers, but ask that you vow that your loyalty above all be to the Order and its interests."

Snape looked at Dumbledore for a moment. "Fine. I agree."

The memory clouded yet again and began to change. Melanie took the chance to look over at Draco, who was looking at the memory with his jaw open. "All of that time he was on Dumbledore's side?" he whispered to himself. Melanie smiled to herself and looked over to where Harry was sitting with Hermione and Ron.

"That's why Dumbledore always trusted him," Hermione was whispering rather loudly.

"But why did he kill Dumbledore if he was on the Order's side all along?" Melanie asked to herself as one final memory began to take shape.

"All is lost!" Snape exclaimed, pacing once again around Dumbledore's office.

"All is not lost yet, Severus," Dumbledore told him patiently. "There is yet a way out of this."

"Don't you understand, Dumbledore, I've vowed to kill you! If those boys don't manage it, I've sworn to do so!"

"Now, Severus, why do you appear so upset by this? Remember it was you who took the Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa Malfoy."

"I did not know what task it was that Draco and Nott were assigned! Besides, it was the only way to maintain my loyalty with Bellatrix," he added gloomily.

"Then it served its purpose," Dumbledore said sadly.

"You are accepting it, then?" Snape asked in shock.

"I would prefer to use my energies to fight other battles than one I already know I cannot win." Dumbledore sighed. "Besides, the Unbreakable Vow you made to me takes precedence. You would not have been able to complete that Vow if it conflicted with the one you made to me. I know your meaning was for good."

"Then what am I to do?"

"Do as you have promised. Help the two boys as they need. And, if fate so deems it, we shall have our encounter."

Snape nodded unhappily. "I would have rather Draco not to become a Death Eater. Why I vowed to help him..."

"You vowed to protect him, Severus," Dumbledore reminded him. "There is a difference. And you don't know yet what life may bring. He may yet be saved from that path..."

As the memory faded away, Melanie felt Draco squeeze her hand. She squeezed back, and turned to smile at him.

"Well, this does prove interesting," Scrimgeour announced. "Do you have anything else to say, Minerva?"

McGonagall shook her head. "Just that I think that this court should let Severus Snape go free, seeing as how everything he did was by Dumbledore's command, even his own murder."

The Wizengamot huddled again and talked for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, they broke apart.

"If no one can present further evidence, the Wizengamot concludes that Severus Snape was indeed a spy working for the Order of the Phoenix and that, as such, should be cleared of all charges."

There were shouts of mixed emotions from the crowd, but Melanie couldn't hide the smile on her face. The girls around her were all celebrating, but Melanie saw Harry march out in a huff.

"I'll be right back," Melanie told Draco, walking over to Hermione and Ron. "What's going on with Harry?"

Hermione sighed. "The usual. He's convinced himself for so long that Snape was a Death Eater through and through, and to see him set free, and that he joined the Order because of Harry's mother..."

Melanie nodded. "I guess you really can't blame him."

"Can't help but agree with him," Ron muttered.

"Ron!"

"What?"

Hermione shook her head. "Why can't you guys accept that Dumbledore trusted Snape and that Snape was only doing what he wanted?"

"Like Dumbledore wanted to die, Hermione?" Ron asked sarcastically. "It wouldn't have had to happen if Snape hadn't promised to protect that little jerk!" He pointed angrily at Draco.

Melanie's eyes flared up, and, without knowing what she was doing, she slapped Ron across his face. "Don't talk about my fiancé like that!" And without another word she walked out of the room.

"Don't look at me," Hermione told him. "You deserved it."

Draco chased after Melanie and caught up with her right before she reached the elevators. "Why did you do that?"

Melanie turned sharply. "I'm tired of people always looking down on you. You helped defeat Voldemort as much as anyone else, didn't you?"

Draco beamed at her. "I love you so much," he said, hugging her.

The crowd began to file out of the courtroom, so Draco pulled Melanie into a doorway.

"You've done so much for me," Draco continued.

"What are you talking about, Draco?" Melanie asked.

"Everything. What Dumbledore said in that memory, it's true. You saved me from being in one of those courtrooms today." Draco shook his head. "When I think about Nott and the fact that he'll spend 15 years in Azkaban for killing your cousin...that was the life I was heading toward. Instead," he looked at Melanie, "I'm about to be married to the most fabulous woman I could have ever imagined." He kissed her on the cheek.

Melanie smiled at him. "So you don't regret choosing me over your father?"

"Not even for a second."

~*~*~*~

Once all of the trials were completed, the Ministry declared another holiday and allowed England one last day to celebrate their newfound freedom. McGonagall and the rest of the Order arranged one last party at Hogwarts before the students who were using the summer session to complete their O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s were due to move in.

After the celebration had been going strong for several hours, Melanie sneaked out of the Great Hall to go to the bathroom. On her way back, she somehow found herself wandering alone around the castle. Without really thinking about where she was going and instead thinking about how this might be the last time she would ever be in the castle, she found herself in front of a familiar door.

"Phantom?" she asked, pushing the classroom door open. She pulled out her wand and lit the room.

As usual, the graceful figure appeared from the covered organ. "I am surprised," she said as Melanie walked towards her. "I did not feel your presence as I am used to."

Melanie looked down at the ground. "I guess I'm one of the few who have ever been a musea for part of her life but not for all of it. It's a weird feeling."

"Yet one that will become natural with time," the Phantom added, settling down in front of Melanie. "You have done well; the ghosts talk of nothing else."

Melanie raised an eyebrow. "I thought you didn't associate with the other ghosts?"

The Phantom shrugged her shoulders. "I guess since you have given me an excuse to come out of my organ I don't want to go back so quickly." She smiled. "Change is inevitable."

"That it is," Melanie agreed, looking around the room. "To think that just two years ago...that seems like another lifetime."

"And yet they are one and the same. Life has many chapters, one right after the other."

"You and your wise sayings." Melanie laughed. "I'm going to miss being able to come here whenever I have a problem."

The Phantom opened her mouth to reply, but Melanie interrupted. "I know, I know, I must accept the change."

"That wasn't what I was going to say at all," the Phantom told her, smiling at Melanie's confused face. "I was going to say that I hope there are little Brienwalds, well, little Malfoys here to keep me company in the coming years."

Melanie blushed. "I hadn't thought about that."

"You should." The Phantom smiled at her, then grew sad. "Take joy in your children, Melanie. You never know when they will be gone."

Melanie gave the Phantom another confused look as the classroom door opened again.

"She's in here!" Pippy shouted, and soon she, Scarlett, Kathryn, and Stephanie sat with her around the room. "Hermione thought we might find you here."

"Do you need something?" Melanie asked.

"Yes," Scarlett answered, smiling at Melanie. "You see, we were all talking the other day after we heard about the Order of Merlins, and we decided that you deserved something much more than the 2^nd class."

Melanie blushed. "B..b..ut," she stammered as Scarlett pulled out a small white box. "You all did as much as I did."

"Never!" Kathryn replied. "You're the one who figured it all out."

"That was Hermione."

"You're the one who figured out the compass," Pippy added.

"That was just..."

"You're the only one of us who stood up to Voldemort," Scarlett finished. "We were all cowering in fear, but you talked right back to him."

"That was foolish."

"It was brave," Kathryn corrected. "You can argue all you want, Melanie, but none of us would have made it through this half as well if Euterpe hadn't picked you."

Kathryn's argument finally silenced Melanie, who just looked around the room in surprise.

"So," Scarlett continued, "we decided to arrange for a special gift to be made for you." She handed Melanie the small box.

Blushing, Melanie took the box and opened it. Looking curiously inside, she gently pulled out a delicate glass music note. As she brought it to eye level, she noticed a clear liquid moving inside.

"It's beautiful, but what's inside of it?"

"Your potion," Kathryn answered.

"But I destroyed it all!"

"Not all!" Pippy chirped. "Right before I woke you up the day after the battle I snuck into your lab and stole some. I thought it'd be a good souvenir."

Melanie looked from the note to the girls and smiled. "It's beautiful." She reached out to give them all a hug. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed the Phantom smile as she disappeared back into the organ.

"Come on!" Stephanie announced. "Let's get back down to the Great Hall before Bill and Fleur leave with the baby!"

"Are they here?" Melanie asked. "I haven't gotten a chance to see Lorraine yet."

Pippy gave her a surprised look as the group began to head back down to the Great Hall. "The baby's almost two weeks old!"

"Well, things kept coming up," Melanie replied. "A lot has happened these last two weeks."

"Then we'll have to take you to them," Stephanie answered. "I don't think I've ever seen such an adorable baby."

"Well, with Fleur for a mother how can she not be?" Kathryn agreed.

"Does she have the Weasley red hair?" Melanie laughed.

Pippy nodded. "The cutest strawberry blonde curls!" she chirped as the group arrived at the Great Hall.

Stephanie led them straight through the crowd to where Fleur was standing by the refreshment table, the tiny Lorraine tucked snugly into her arms.

"There you are!" Fleur exclaimed when she saw Stephanie. "Fred iz looking for you everywhere!"

"I'll go find him in a second," Stephanie told her, pulling Melanie towards the baby. "Melanie, may I introduce you to Lorraine Weasley."

Fiery green eyes peered out from under the small wisps of strawberry blonde hair that were beginning to emerge all over her head, and then lit up as their gaze fell on Melanie.

"Oh, Fleur, she's adorable!" Melanie said, holding out a finger to shake the baby's hand. Instead, Lorraine reached out and brushed the music note that was in Melanie's other hand. A brilliant red light burst forth from the glass and drew a gasp from everyone.

"What does this mean?" Scarlett asked.

Nobody voiced the answer, but they all were considering the exact same answer.